AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat ( previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat ) is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter . The AW159 will serve in the battlefield utility , search and rescue and anti - surface warfare roles . The helicopter has been ordered for the Royal Navy and British Army . It is to enter service with the Army in 2014 and with the Royal Navy in 2015 . Development . The " Future Lynx " project originated in two studies in 2002 to determine the suitability of a derivative of the Super Lynx 300 to replace the existing Lynx helicopters of the Royal Navy and British Army . These requirements were known as the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft ( SCMR ) and Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter ( BLUH ) programmes , respectively . The utility transport aspect of the BLUH requirement was subsequently de - emphasised and the programme renamed Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter ( BRH ) . On 22 June 2006 , the UK Ministry of Defence awarded AgustaWestland a £1 billion contract for 70 Future Lynx helicopters as a commitment under the Strategic Partnering Arrangement with AgustaWestland . The programme envisaged providing the British Army with 40 aircraft and Royal Navy with 30 , with an option for a further 10 , split equally between Army and Navy . In December 2008 the MoD announced that this contract would go ahead with the order reduced to 62 . By mid - 2009 , the cost of the programme had increased to £1 . 7 billion . On 24 April 2009 , it was announced that the Future Lynx had been designated " AW159 " by AgustaWestland , and would be known in British military service as the " Wildcat " . The first Lynx Wildcat took the type ' s maiden flight from Yeovil on 12 November 2009 , with initial deliveries of the type expected in 2011 . The second AW159 first flew on 14 October 2010 , and a third helicopter joined the flight testing on 19 November 2010 . In December 2011 , it was reported that four additional Wildcats had been ordered for use by British special forces . These are to be joined by four from the current fleet on order , for a total of eight aircraft to operate as Wildcat Light Assault Helicopters . Design . The AW159 Wildcat is the successor to , and a further development of , the Westland Lynx . While the AW159 shares broad similarities in appearance to the Lynx , it has significant design differences and is heavily modernised and adapted to gain new attributes and functionality ; the AW159 comprises 95 % new components ; the remaining 5 % , consisting of such items as the fuel system and main rotor gearbox , are interchangeable with the Lynx AH7 and HMA8 variants . The AW159 is the first helicopter by AgustaWestland to be designed inside an entirely digital environment . Among other changes , certain external elements of the Wildcat , such as the tail rotor , have been redesigned for greater durability and stealth qualities . Both Army and Navy variants are based on a common airframe , which is suitable for marine use and equipped with a wheeled undercarriage . The AW159 is powered by two LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines , and has a new composite tailboom , tailplane , tail rotor , nose structure and avionics suite . The naval version is also equipped with a SELEX Galileo Seaspray 7000E active electronically scanned array ( AESA ) radar . The AW159 is reported to have significant ISTAR capabilities and improved situational awareness through the onboard integrated digital open systems architecture ; it has been equipped with the Bowman communications system , allowing for data such as targeting and voice communications to be securely and seamlessly transmitted to friendly forces . Operational history . United Kingdom . The UK is to initially receive 34 Wildcats for the British Army and 28 for the Royal Navy . The Army variant is to enter operational service in 2014 , with the RN variant following in 2015 . The Royal Navy commissioned a Wildcat Fielding Squadron , known as 700W Naval Air Squadron ( 700W NAS ) in 2009 . The Army Air Corps also formed the Wildcat Fielding Team . Both units are located at RNAS Yeovilton . In February 2012 , a prototype Wildcat ( airframe ZZ402 ) conducted 20 days of trials aboard HMS " Iron Duke " off the coasts of England and Scotland . The trials were designed to test the helicopter in challenging weather conditions , test its onboard systems and define the Wildcat ' s ship - helicopter operating limits for when the helicopter enters service in 2015 . During the trials 390 deck landings were completed , including 148 night landings . In January 2013 , it was reported that the Royal Navy will receive 28 maritime attack variant helicopters ; these are to begin operations in 2015 . The British Army will receive 34 Wildcats South Korea . On 15 January 2013 , South Korea ' s Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced the selection of the AW159 to fulfill the Republic of Korea Navy ' s requirement for a maritime helicopter , winning out against the MH - 60R Seahawk . Deliveries of eight aircraft are planned for 2015 - 16 ; these will be used for search - and - rescue missions , anti - submarine warfare and surveillance .