Saturn Lynx Over The Moon With Missile Firings

The first live firings from the Lynx Mk 8 Saturn Radio Upgrade 3 took place recently at the QinetiQ ranges at Aberporth, West Wales.

Trial Aftershock 5 successfully demonstrated the continued potent combination of the Lynx aircraft and the Sea Skua missile.

Based at RNAS Yeovilton, the Royal Navy’s latest mark of helicopter the Lynx Mark 8 Saturn Radio Upgrade (SRU) entered Front Line service with 815 Naval Air Squadron earlier this year. This next generation of Lynx Helicopter Maritime Attack Mark 8 sees a considerable enhancement of the communications system, a new Successor IFF, avionics upgrades and improved mission computers. 

The Sea Skua  missile is a semi-active sea skimming anti-ship missile that entered service in 1982 for the Falklands War and was modified to bring new capability for Gulf War 1.  The missile was employed in both conflicts achieving mission success and earning the title ‘Combat Proven’.

Trial Aftershock 5 firings took place very close to the maximum range of the missile and included the first ever ‘ripple 3’ firing, 3 missile from one aircraft.  The results were very successful with the target peppered with holes. This has also given exposure to missile firings to a new generation of Lynx aircrew, and valuable live missile loading experience to a large team of Lynx maintainers.

Speaking after the trial Lt Cdr Shaun Enever, the Lynx Force Warfare Officer said, “Trial Aftershock 5 has demonstrated the potent combination of Lynx and Sea Skua as an anti-ship capability. The opportunity to get missiles away and give experience to relatively junior crews will ensure the corporate knowledge remains within the Lynx Helicopter Force for the remaining life of the Sea Skua before the next generation of weapon enters service with Wildcat.