As part of a new military assistance package, Germany may be assessing the transfer of its old Westland Mk 88A Sea Lynx naval helicopters to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy, platforms that would otherwise be retired in the near future should no destination in Kyiv be found. The development was hinted at by German officials to the media yesterday, more specifically during the delivery of what constitutes the first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter from the fleet ordered to replace the aging platforms in the role of providing airborne support to surface vessels of the German Navy.
Expanding on the details, the remarks came from Captain Broder Nielsen, who currently serves as commander of the Marineflieger (naval aviation) of the aforementioned force. Quoting some of his own statements: “The Sea Lynx will be retired in about a year. I assume we will find a good solution. All Sea Lynx will continue flying; they will not go to a museum, so we will see them operating somewhere.” When asked where that “somewhere” would be, and whether it would be the same destination to which Sea Kings have been sent—namely Ukraine—the captain confirmed that this would indeed be the case.
It is worth recalling at this point that Berlin confirmed the transfer of six Sea King Mk41 helicopters along with an accessories package to Ukraine in January 2024, all drawn from the Bundeswehr’s own inventory. Later, in October of the same year, Germany also partnered with the United Kingdom with the aim of equipping the transferred helicopters with new anti-surface missiles to enhance their strike capabilities, while Norway contributed by supplying spare parts and tools to ensure the operational readiness of the systems.
On the other hand, if we briefly review the platform’s characteristics, it is useful to note that the Sea Lynx would arrive equipped with a significant suite of sensors to support naval operations. By way of illustrative examples, the Seaspray radars stand out, enabling the detection of maritime surface targets even under highly adverse conditions. The helicopters can also be fitted with sonobuoys to facilitate operations against submarine threats. Additionally, on those airframes that have been upgraded, thermal imaging systems are available, allowing the helicopter to operate effectively in nighttime conditions.
In terms of armament, the Sea Lynx relies on a modular concept tailored to the specific requirements of each mission. This translates, for instance, into the ability to carry lightweight torpedoes such as the Mk.46 or the MU90 to conduct attacks against enemy submarines, as well as Sea Skua anti-ship missiles against medium-sized surface vessels. As a complement to their own self-defense, the helicopters can also be equipped with heavy machine guns mounted on the side doors.
Finally, it should be recalled that these helicopters have a maximum speed of around 320 km/h, making the Sea Lynx one of the fastest of its generation. In terms of dimensions, the Sea Lynx measures 15.2 meters in length and features a rotor diameter of 12.8 meters; it should also be noted that the rotor blades can be folded when required for storage in a ship’s hangar. Furthermore, each helicopter is known to be capable of reaching an estimated range of 500 kilometers, while its service ceiling lies between 3,000 and 3,500 meters.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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