Portugal faces longevity battle with naval Lynx helicopters

The Portuguese Navy is planning to retain its Westland WG.13 Super Navy Lynx Mk 95 helicopters in service until about 2030, according to the commanding officer of the navy's helicopter squadron.

Optimised for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and area denial operations, the five aircraft have already clocked up 20 years of service, providing an organic aviation capability for the navy's three Vasco da Gama-class (MEKO 200 PN) frigates.

Commander Paulo Lopes, who commands the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM: Naval Helicopter Squadron), said that retaining the Lynx Mk 95 in service for nearly two more decades would require a major effort at a time of acute fiscal austerity.

"The navy plans to sustain the Lynx Mk 95 until 2030-ish, which means some homework must be done to ensure longevity without obsolescence," he told the IQPC International Military Helicopter conference in London on 30-31 January 2013.

The Lynx Mk 95 - its secondary roles include maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue (SAR), special operations, and utility transport - entered Portuguese service when the EHM was established in 1993. Since then the squadron has flown an accident-free 20,000 hours with the type, Cdr Lopes said.