Royal Navy AW-159 Wildcat maritime helicopter takes part in Exercise Joint Warrior.

Although it looks similar to its predecessor, Wildcat is a different aircraft, from the way it handles, to the equipment aboard – which is a generation ahead of that on the Lynx.

Wildcat has undergone more than four years of trials which have tested the airframe to the limit and set the rules for what the helicopter can do on and off the flight deck, the emphasis has shifted to how to use Wildcat on the front line – what the military call tactical development.

Wildcat pilot, Lieutenant Dave Neyland, said:

“On this deployment our focus was working on tactical development – the chance to be at sea with so many other ships and submarines, from across the world, was not one to be missed.”

The nature of Joint Warrior, which features pretty much every face of naval warfare: submarine, surface, fast-attack craft, amphibious assault – which means it’s about as thorough a workout a new helicopter bristling with cutting-edge equipment can hope to find in one place.

So with more than 30 warships and submarines from over half a dozen Allied nations to play with, Wildcat clocked up 26 flying hours in 18 days – in a variety of different environments and weather.

“The range and clarity of the sensors, including the radar and onboard cameras, meant that building the maritime picture was more accurate and faster than in the older Lynx,” said Lt Sammy Haynes, the Wildcat’s observer who was monitoring the reams of data the helicopter’s suite of sensors was picking up.

Later this year Wildcat will go through two months of intensive Operational Sea Training with a Type 23 frigate to prepare ship and helicopter for deployment.

Wildcat is due to be declared operational in early 2015 and is due to deploy for the first time with a Royal Navy warship on the North Atlantic patrol next May – by which time Dragon’s second deployment should just about be complete.

After a successful maiden deployment – eight months in the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean – the destroyer is devoting the first half of 2014 to preparing for her second tour of duty.

Following a high-profile visit to her twin town of Cardiff to receive the Freedom of the City and Operational Sea Training, the Type 45 destroyer will deploy again in October – fewer than 12 months year after returning from her last operational tour.

“This year has already been another of many firsts for Dragon and we were delighted to assist in this way to bring on the capability of this aircraft,” said Capt Iain Lower, the destroyer’s Commanding Officer.

“It was fantastic for all of my sailors to work with the Wildcat team and to have the aircraft aboard a Type 45 for such a long period. A brand new aircraft on the Navy’s newest warship is more evidence of the exciting future ahead of us.”

Link to AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat multi-role maritime helicopter technical datasheet