sea king british licence built version american helicopter built aircraft differs considerably american version rolls engines derived british anti submarine warfare systems fully flight control system primarily designed performing anti submarine warfare missions variant adapted troop transport known commando british service provided wide range services royal_navy royal_air_force wartime roles war gulf war balkans conflict iraq war afghanistan war known capacity rescue red grey yellow helicopter adapted meet royal_navy requirement ship based airborne early warning platform sea king remains operation britain export customers germany norway egypt india operators replaced planning replace modern helicopters design development origins long standing licence agreement allow build helicopters extended agreement cover soon flight proceeded independently develop integrating significant proportion components british suppliers key changes include use pair rolls engines implementation automatic flight control system matter authors stated despite appearances different aircraft differences built original helicopter result differing operational doctrine intended tactical control carrier operated royal_navy intended helicopters autonomous capable operating coordinating aircraft surface vessels resulted different crew arrangement operations controlled observer pilot fitting search radar royal_navy selected meet requirement anti submarine warfare helicopter replace placing order sea kings june prototype pre production aircraft built connecticut shipped united_kingdom act trials pattern aircraft initially fitted shipped united_states flown october airfield delivered docks road completion british systems rolls engines built helicopter designated flew helicopters trials evaluation armament experimental establishment subsequent production delivered royal_navy naval air squadron august onwards royal_navy ordered meet anti submarine requirements secondary anti ship role sea king updated adapted numerous roles subsequent variants include changes initial production aircraft included expansion cabin upgraded engines commando developments extensively modified variants operated royal_navy commando capacity fully equipped troops originally developed meet requirement amphibious capability required egyptian desert noticeable change main carried improved variant changes including fitting folding blades common variants designated royal_navy aircraft new build flying september operational range nautical miles important asset amphibious warfare troop transport duties particular operated commando variant naval air squadron british service deployed operations balkans gulf wars lebanon afghanistan end operational life removal equipment troop transports converted sea kings troop transports retired 1970s experience led company conduct british experimental program coordination applied innovations composite materials new design principles helicopter initial trials carried active found advantages including longer fatigue life improved aerodynamic characteristics subsequent helicopters record breaking took advantage greater performance equipped later built new composite produced total sea kings export customers include german_navy royal_navy role retired replaced control variant expected replaced introduction queen class aircraft carriers planned retire search rescue variants march search rescue dedicated search rescue version developed type entered service replace 16th helicopter ordered shortly following war examples purchased enable operation flight islands initially north stanley harbour later helicopters ordered replace remaining helicopters role entering service featured updated systems including digital navigation system modern manufactured versions german_navy variants cabin enlarged stretch fuselage door key feature additional unusual event water landing bags housed inside aircraft upgrades changes include addition radar warning receivers cargo hook carriage goods cockpit compatibility night vision dispersed attached providing hour rescue coverage royal_navy variants adapted role served naval air squadron airport scotland expected remain service replaced civilian operated prince andrew duke york duke cambridge flown line roles airborne early warning royal_navy airborne early warning capability lost withdrawn fleet carriers decommissioned war number warships lost casualties suffered lack platform proposed fleet cover great distance practical consequently modified addition emi radar attached fuselage swivel arm protected dome allowed radar lowered fuselage flight raised landing prototypes designated flying weeks deployed flight hms serving cessation hostilities modified production standard known remained fitted entered operational service deployed sea king later converted programme bringing fleet requirement upgrade programme resulted fleet upgraded new mission system active noise reduction recording component radar partial integration based improved radar new man component later termed project successful integration conducted variant initially referred renamed service date control main role detection low flying attack aircraft provides interception attack control horizon targeting surface launched weapon systems comparison older versions new radar enables simultaneously track targets instead earlier limit targets effectiveness greatly increased addition link data link allowing gathered radar information analysed rapidly use multiple allied platforms range remain service replaced programme intended capability onboard previous proposed replacement programmes maritime airborne surveillance control initiated cancelled largely erroneous assumption entire system simply lifted aircraft type result time gap planned service date introduction seven helicopters remain service second half operational history united_kingdom war number deployed war transported combat zone operated decks ships royal_navy landing platform dock theatre performed wide range missions anti submarine patrols reconnaissance flights operations special forces support provided form transport men supplies viewed vital success british operation protected fleet acting incoming missiles missions flown prince andrew duke york embarked hms invincible squadron operated anti submarine search rescue sorties helicopter airborne surface search duties june sea king transport major general accept surrender argentine troops island squadron flew sorties war flight embarked aboard supplies ships way south later anti submarine patrols flight sea king board duties supplying tons stores naval air squadron formed war sea king modified utility variants support ground forces anti submarine equipment removed helicopters fitted troop seats aircraft embarked queen later moving troops ships remainder embarked troop movements islands embarked naval air squadron carried continuous anti submarine sorties departure ascension april argentine surrender squadron operated helicopters airborne continuously fleet protection april sea king performing risky transfer supplies ship night operating flagship operating crashed sea problem crew rescued sea king process transporting troops crashed sea attempting land men killed survived bird feathers found debris suggesting bird strike accident cause inconclusive lost men crash highest number casualties day second world war lost man raf man gulf war gulf war sea kings nations including canada britain present coalition forces iraq regime threat potential use iraqi weapons mass destruction standard practice crews wear fully enclosed nbc nuclear biological chemical protective suits britain primarily engaged inter ship transport duties including troops fleet land sea king helicopters squadron reformed meet operational demand worked support ground advance thorough radar coverage airborne early warning control aircraft british deployed following end hostilities available remained deployment region conduct transport missions relocate people displaced conflict refugee camps citizens home countries balkans participated intervention bosnia dispatched region late response escalating tensions region performed logistical transport missions light guns region evacuation casualties incident march attempt establish air evacuation route declared safe zone flight french helicopters shelled taking improvised landing zone arrived evacuate casualties managing fly wounded city came enemy fire unloading nato intervention operating numerous royal_navy vessels adriatic including aircraft carrier maintained patrol balkans coast heavily transport role preparations ground invasion 2000s participated sierra invasion iraq multiple operated march operating collided resulting death seven personnel report collision called outfitted night vision better onboard safety equipment recommended changes procedure use radar night july sea king helicopters based temporarily deployed cyprus assist evacuation british citizens lebanon october following years service afghanistan troop transports forces stationed returned replacement april july royal_navy stationed camp conducted operational missions initial deployment criticised fitted protective armour australia australia purchased 50s new helicopter replaced aircraft carrier complement following year early operations troubled series accidents october aircraft lost accidents primary causes loss oil main gearbox australian sea kings similar search radar dorsal instead powerful engines giving improved high temperature performance australia flown squadron ran carrier retired service replacement large operate adelaide class frigates squadron forced operate land bases utility roles anti submarine mission iraq war heavily logistical roles delivery humanitarian aid iraqi capital baghdad aftermath indian_ocean earthquake australian played major role disaster relief efforts indonesia delivering medical teams supplies ships prior retirement major missions flown queensland floods provided coverage region delivered aid relief citizens flooded areas replacement fleet commenced faster initially planned following loss humanitarian aid mission indonesia april resulting deaths investigators uncovered faults condition mechanical flight control system resulting maintenance deficiencies remaining grounded months following discovery number missing parts september australian minister announced withdrawn service december having flown excess hours operations australia overseas time farewell flight conducted december flew canberra passing australian war memorial landing december chief navy presided ceremonial squadron ran withdrawn helicopters available sale replacement india following pakistani war pakistan invested heavily modern submarines long range torpedoes response india opted britain duties designated purchase included provision air torpedoes use submarines delivery aircraft began months pakistani war training new helicopters sea king operations considerably restricted war november increased experience enabled offensive anti submarine operations conducted majestic class aircraft carrier refitted enable extensive operations carrier primary anti submarine aircraft early 1960s india britain agreed domestic production class frigate initial helicopter deployed aboard india known class offered capability anti submarine role compared need design changes realised allow deployed flight deck class practice pioneered similar sized frigates proved operate class ships class fitted enlarged flight deck hangar required removal ship anti submarine mortar original india chose acquire specifically modified operate flight deck designated follow india commenced development new frigate based larger resultant class known project operate simultaneously india signed contract purchase upgraded variant perform dual purpose anti shipping anti submarine missions following competition order helicopters operate class frigates replace existing team indian engineers sent britain help develop especially onboard software changes older sea kings included brand new suite use composite materials fuselage blades integration sea eagle missile britain total delivered sea kings troop carrying capacity designated considered expected designated judged expensive consequently russian instead indigenous intended replacement role deemed dissatisfied design folding blade mechanism maintenance record united_states enacted sanctions india international response series nuclear weapons tests india sanctions effectively grounded india india purchase supplied spare parts fleet complied sanctions refusing maintain components limited number kept operational aircraft manufacture components december president bill_clinton permitted sanctions late 2000s signed agreement jointly maintain perform upgrades india fleet norway owns operated aircraft air ambulance missions command introduced originally stationed main air station air station station group squadron conducted air ambulance missions helicopter stationed airport stationed air station airport station helicopter helicopters replaced norwegian weather search rescue helicopter programme candidates contract helicopters july short listed conduct discussions programme helicopters germany german_navy placed order june replacement flying boat search rescue role export sale dedicated search variant enlarged cabin fuel similar radar navigation equipment fitted delivered april september naval air wing additional delivered april replace destroyed gale surviving upgraded adding capability carry anti ship missiles required addition radar nose remaining tasked variety roles including transport disaster relief tactical land sea transport evacuation surveillance reconnaissance naval support main base units stationed airport airfield helicopters scheduled replaced egypt prolific operator different variants wide variety purposes addition operating coastal patrols egypt land based transport adapted basic marketed commando including electronic warfare version deployed featuring sophisticated onboard systems sea kings remain service egypt operates commando variant standard utility transport ground forces single equipped specially perform transport duties serve anti shipping capacity outfitted carry deploy required anti ship missiles pakistan navy took delivery sea kings variant based royal_navy served combined anti submarine anti ship role carrying missile alternative normal anti submarine weapon load mark torpedoes pakistan lost accident february replaced royal navy redesignated january pakistan remained service december purchased perform search rescue missions introduced service gradually replaced variants anti submarine version royal_navy engines bladed tail search radar dorsal sea king flew built converted upgraded anti submarine version royal_navy based australian powerful engines bladed tail upgraded including new type improved navigation communications equipment new build aircraft plus conversions later converted duties conversion sea king aircraft lack cover revealed war fitted radar removed normally flown person pilot observers crew compared person crew sea kings converted rescue version royal_air_force fitted relocated rear cabin bulkhead giving greater cabin length extra fuel additional observation windows built improved search rescue version royal_air_force fitted upgraded built assault utility transport version royal_navy simplified lengthened cabin capable transporting fully equipped troops built aircraft flown april sea king helicopters based trials test beds fitted nose dorsal installations anti submarine warfare version royal_navy longer range radar enlarged dorsal new acoustic processing system provision use entered service june new build aircraft plus converted earlier versions later converted search rescue sea king conversion search rescue role royal_navy equipment removed retaining radar sea king converted helicopters royal_navy surplus helicopters converted utility role royal_navy anti submarine warfare version royal_navy fitted improved new improved tactical displays better communications equipment new build aircraft plus conversions surplus helicopters converted utility role royal_navy royal_navy helicopters retired service march royal_navy replacing original radar rescue version german_navy longer cabin built delivered total upgraded onwards additional radar nose capability carry missiles anti submarine warfare version built anti submarine warfare version fitted haul system operating small ships built purpose version equipped anti submarine warfare advanced anti shipping operations sea eagle missiles built crashing delivery search rescue utility transport version nose mounted search radar built search rescue version lengthened cabin built version airframe engines single example built version upgraded including sea radar large dorsal weather radar nose turret nose new build plus upgrade remaining helicopters submarine anti ship warfare version provision carrying anti ship missile built royal navy sea king helicopter sold pakistan attrition replacement submarine version built rescue version airframe similar extended cabin built delivered multi role version equivalent preceding built improved sold follow order multi role version commando minimum change assault utility transport version lengthened cabin retaining gear built commando improved assault utility transport version fitted powerful engines non folding gear built commando assault utility transport version identical egyptian built commando transport version commando built commando transport version commando built commando electronic warfare version fitted integrated system fuselage built commando anti ship warfare version fitted dorsal capable carrying missiles built operators current egypt egyptian air force germany german navy india arm norway royal norwegian air force pakistan pakistan naval air arm air force united kingdom royal navy navy belgium belgian air component united kingdom royal air force aircraft display australia shark display near belgium sea king display museum brussels india sea king display united kingdom sea king serial number display sea king display display aircraft delivered royal_navy operated hms invincible operation corporate rescue crew sea king april helicopter flown sea king display data sea king general characteristics crew depending mission length diameter height disc area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight weight powerplant rolls shp propellers bladed performance maximum speed mph knots max cruise sea level range nmi rate climb min armament mark torpedoes depth charges provision door mounted machine gun
Westland Sea King