AgustaWestland Wins AW159 Wildcat FASGW Missile Integration Contract

AgustaWestland won a Euro 113 million (£90 million) UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) contract to integrate, test and install Future Anti Surface Guilded Weapon (FASGW) missiles onto 28 Royal Navy AW159 Wildcat helicopters.

The missile systems are the MBDA FASGW (Heavy)/ANL (Anti Navire Léger) and the Thales Light Multirole Missile FASGW.

AgustaWestland is manufacturing 62 Wildcat helicopters for the UK MoD, 28 of which will be operated by the Royal Navy and 34 by the British Army. The Wildcat is replacing the Lynx helicopter.

The AW159 Wildcat will be able to carry up to four launchers, two per weapon carrier, each with up to five LMM missiles, or up to four FASGW (H)/ANL missiles with two on each weapon carrier. It will also be able to carry a mixed load of LMM launchers and FASGW (H)/ANL missiles for maximum mission flexibility.

The MBDA FASGW(Heavy)/ANL features a high speed, two-way data-link that communicates the images seen by the missile’s seeker to the operator, who, in addition to initiating an autonomous engagement, can alternatively remain in control of the missile throughout the full duration of its flight.