Lynx Wildcat
| Lynx Wildcat The Capability The Lynx Wildcat capability was developed to meet the requirements for a dedicated small helicopter for use in both the land (Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter requirement) and maritime (Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft requirement) environments to replace the current Lynx fleet which is reaching its life end. Lynx Wildcat is a single-source, combined helicopter procurement programme with Westland Helicopters Ltd which follows More Effective Contracting principles. Project approval is for 80 aircraft, with funding for 62 held by the Integrated Project Team. |
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| Overview of Cost, Time and Performance | ||||||
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| Approved | Forecast/Actual | Variation | IY Variation | ||
| Cost of Assessment Phase | £59m | £57m | -£2m | - | ||
| Cost of Demonstration & Manufacture Phase | £1,803m | £1,644m | -£159m | +£39m | ||
| Duration of Assessment Phase - Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter |
| 54 months |
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| Duration of Assessment Phase - Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft | - | 45 months | - | - | ||
| In-Service Date - Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter | January 2014 | January 2014 | 0 months | 0 months | ||
| In-Service Date - Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft | January 2015 | January 2015 | 0 months | 0 months | ||
| In-year Cost and Time Variation Detail | ||||||
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| The first airframe was delivered to the Westland build line in November 2008 and a successful 'first flight' was achieved in November 2009 in accordance with the schedule contracted in June 2006. A 2010 Planning Round Option was run to address the legislative and safety requirement to fit all combat aircraft including helicopters with fuel system survivability measures. A Review Note was submitted to the Investment Approvals Board in December 2008 and approved in January 2009, detailing a new strategy to explore a single source, integrated Support Solution and Training Delivery Service through the aircraft manufacturer, AgustaWestland. Work continues towards approvals and contract let. The training capital equipment contract was let in February 2011. Due to challenges in achieving a value for money and affordable solution, the combined training and support service is now expected to proceed to the Investment Approvals Board in the 2nd quarter of 2011-12 with a contract award to support the Logistic Support Date. Logistic Support and Ready for Training dates remain unchanged and are planned for December 2011 and January 2013, respectively. | Based on the current assumptions within the Rotary Wing Strategy the quantity of Wildcat aircraft to be procured comprises 34 Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopters with a further eight Light Assault Helicopter role variants of the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter, together with 28 Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft. The Light Assault Helicopter role requirement will be subject to appropriate requirement approvals. Planning Round 2011 Options introduce funding for the Light Assault Helicopter role equipment as well as de-scoping the Battlefield Reconnaisance Helicopter requirement by four aircraft, resulting in a total fleet of 66 aircraft. A further Planning Round 2011 Option was run to revise the profile of the resources available for the Wildcat project between financial year 2014-15 and financial year 2015-16. | |||||
Risk Assessment against Defence Lines of Development
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Personnel