{{unreferenced, date=August 2014 The Lynx Operational Evaluation Unit (LOEU) is an independent unit within the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

’s Lynx Helicopter Force (LHF). It is charged with Operational Evaluation, Trials, Training and provision of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for new equipment projects and service modifications entering service within the Lynx Helicopter Force. The Lynx OEU has gone through many changes in structure and command and control during its existence. It has been part of 815 Naval Air Squadron,

702 Naval Air Squadron 702 Naval Air Squadron (702 NAS) was a naval squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and earlier at RNAS Portland in Dorset. As a training Squadron it trained all ground and air crew for the sister ...

, an independent unit, and has been badged as 700(L) Squadron during the introduction to service of the

Westland Lynx The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led t ...

HAS 2/3 and Lynx HMA 8.

Trials and Evaluation

Commanded by a trained Test Pilot, with an Aerosystems trained Observer as Executive Officer, both previously assigned to

MoD Boscombe Down MoD Boscombe Down ' is the home of a military aircraft testing site, on the southeastern outskirts of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. The site is managed by QinetiQ, the private defence company created as part of the breakup of the Def ...

, the unit is well placed to act as the centre of excellence for trials activity within the LHF. Recent trials include live guided missile firings (Lynx Mk8 S), operational evaluation of defensive aids suites (Lynx Mk8 DSP) and assessment of new NVG compatible landing lamps (Lynx Mk3). In addition the unit is providing SMEs to the SCMR / Future Lynx (FLynx) programme as part of the LHF SCMR Fielding Team’s involvement in the FLynx Combined Test Team. Such activity involves close liaison with many external agencies, such as the

MOD Mod, MOD or mods may refer to: Places * Modesto City–County Airport, Stanislaus County, California, US Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Mods (band), a Norwegian rock band * M.O.D. (Method of Destruction), a band from New York City, US ...

's Lynx Integrated Project Team,

AgustaWestland AgustaWestland was an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica (now known as Leonardo). It was formed in July 2000 as an Anglo-Italian multinational company, when Finmeccanica ...

and

Boscombe Down MoD Boscombe Down ' is the home of a military aircraft testing site, on the southeastern outskirts of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. The site is managed by QinetiQ, the private defence company created as part of the breakup of the Def ...

(Mission Systems and Rotary Wing Test Squadron).

Training

The LOEU is currently the primary trials and training unit for the Lynx HMA Mk8 Saturn and associated Combined Modifications Programme (CMP). Having created a bespoke training course it is now converting operational Lynx Mk8 crews onto the latest equipment and software standard.

Aircraft

The LOEU currently operates 4

HMA 8 Saturn / CMP, but is allotted other marks as required for trials activity.

References

Naval aviation units and formations of the United Kingdom