Malaysians Like the Super Lynx,
That's a Victory for GKN Westland

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Fresh from its major victory in winning a $165 million contract to supply the Royal Malaysian Navy with six Super Lynx maritime helicopters, GKN Westland is here at Asian Aerospace with a Lynx Mk. 8 from HMS Coventry.

"This is the first order for the Super Lynx in Southeast Asia and it is fitting that it should be placed by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN)," said GKN Westland Helicopters' Chief Executive, Richard Case. "It was in 1988 that a Naval Air Wing, 499 Squadron, was established by the RMN to operate Westland Wasp helicopters," he said, and now the Lynx will replace them.

The Super Lynx is still under development. It will have an integrated glass cockpit and weapons systems and more powerful RTM320 engines.

Westland regards the Malaysian win as a major victory over rival Kaman and its Super Seasprite, which was chosen earlier by Australia and New Zealand.

"To come back in Malaysia and win is a vindication of how good the Super Lynx really is," said Westland communications manager Marc Holloran.

The six Lynx helicopters will equip Malaysia's two brand new British-built frigates, the KD Jebat and KD Lekiu, which are the most modern warships in the region.

But Kaman says it still has an edge in Asia. "Those frigates were designed for the Lynx, so there really wasn't a competition," according to a Kaman spokesman.

Westland's Holloran dismisses that as sour grapes. Malaysia's choice of the Lynx, he says, stands Westland in good stead to clinch the future requirement to equip up to 24 offshore patrol vessels (OPV).

"With the Lynx in service on their frigates it doesn't make sense to have another aircraft for the OPVs. The deck handling systems, for example, are completely different," said Holloran.

"The aircraft Malaysia will get will be leaps and bounds ahead of the Lynx Mk. 8, and ahead of the Seasprite, which is, lets face it, an old aircraft," he added-a claim that Kaman strenuously denies.