Canadian CH-148 Cyclone At Paris Air Show

It has been a long time coming but the CH-148 Cyclone multi-mission helicopter will soon come into service with the Canadian Forces.

On static display at Le Bourget, one of Canada's incoming fleet of Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopters is making the type's debut public appearance a long way from its future home.

To replace the Canadian armed forces' almost 50-year-old Sikorsky H-3 Sea Kings in providing an anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability, and in delivering search and rescue and utility transport tasks, the new type is derived from the airframer's S-92.

Changes embodied for the maritime variant include the integration of marinised General Electric CT7-8 engines, a 360° maritime search radar, passive and active acoustics, a forward-looking infrared sensor and self-defence equipment. Shipborne operations will be supported by the use of a deck haul-down and handling system, and by an automatic blade and tail-fold function.

Ottawa will eventually receive 28 of the new aircraft via a delayed procurement. The first of these arrived at its Shearwater air base in Nova Scotia on 13 May, and should be accepted for use within the next several months in an initial operating capability standard. The first Canadian technicians are now receiving ground-based instruction at the site, while aircrews will enter flight training soon.

By: Shelldrake