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AugustaWestland awarded contract with British Army

The contract was announced by
Quentin Davies MP, Minister for Defence Equipment and
Support, during a visit to AgustaWestland's Yeovil facility today. The Minister
also accepted delivery today of the seventh upgraded Lynx Mk.9A before handing
it over Lt Col Mike McGinty, Commanding Officer 9 Regiment Army Air Corp, the
first unit that will deploy to Afghanistan with the aircraft.

Giuseppe Orsi, Chief Executive
Officer, AgustaWestland said during the visit "We are delighted to have been
awarded this follow on contract for the upgrade of ten more Lynx. This Lynx
upgrade programme has demonstrated again how AgustaWestland, working in
partnership with the Ministry of Defence, can deliver the capability required
by the British armed forces rapidly and within budget."

This contract extension follows on
from a contract signed in December 2008 for the initial upgrade of 12 aircraft,
the first four of which were upgraded and delivered back to the British Army in
just 12 months. Delivery of the additional ten Lynx Mk.9A aircraft back to the
British Army will start in early 2011 and be completed in early 2012.

AgustaWestland
has pulled forward AW159 Lynx Wildcat programme technologies to provide a rapid
engine upgrade for the British Army Lynx AH Mk.9 aircraft. The new CTS800-4N engines
produce 37% more power than the current Gem engines that are fitted to the Lynx
AH Mk.9 giving the aircraft a significant increase in power which allows it to
operate more effectively in extreme hot and high conditions. This latest
contract will mean the entire British Army fleet of 22 Lynx Mk.9 helicopters
will be upgraded to Mk.9A standard in a seamless conversion programme.

The major
upgrade requires the top deck structure of the aircraft to be modified and
fitted with new engine bays and cowls to accommodate the CTS800-4N engines. The
cockpit is also modified to accommodate new engine controls and the engine
instrument display system. Additionally minor changes are made to the
transmission system and aircraft structure to enable the increased power of the
engines to be fully utilised.

This year, less than 18 months after the
original contract award, the first Lynx Mk.9A helicopters will deploy to
Afghanistan to support British and coalition forces, where its exceptional hot
and high performance will enable it to operate year round in the demanding
environmental conditions experienced there.