Since 1981, the Sea Lynx Mk88A has been a reliable all-rounder of naval aviators. Whether submarine hunting, sea rescue or reconnaissance – over four generations he fought missions worldwide. After more than four decades, his term of service ends. With the NH90 Sea Tiger, the next generation of on-board helicopters is now taking over.
In conjunction with the fleet
The Sea Lynx was the extended arm of a frigate. As a “flying advance commando”, it increased the sensor range of naval ships and could also be used as a weapon carrier. For the helicopter pilots of the 3rd Flying Squadron and the technicians of the Technical Helicopter Squadron of Naval Aviation Squadron 5, the deployment of the Sea Lynx regularly meant moving from Nordholz Air Base to sea. Together, they ensured flight operations for the fleet for decades. As soon as a frigate with on-board helicopters set sail, they moved their aircraft to the ship.
More skills for the future
The introduction of the NH-90 MRFH Sea Tiger is a qualitative leap for maritime warfare. In the future, the new helicopter will support the frigate crews in recognizing threats earlier, gaining a more precise picture of the situation and being able to act accordingly.
With it, the Navy will receive a modern multi-role frigate helicopter (MRFH) for combating threats above and below water. High-performance avionics, high-precision sensor technology and a wide range of weapons enable contemporary maritime warfare.
The main tasks of the helicopter are anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare. To locate and track underwater targets, the Sea Tiger has a diving sonar and a sonar buoy launcher. Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles expand his capabilities as a weapon carrier. In addition, the aircraft can be used for boarding operations, transport tasks and search and rescue missions, among other things.
An optimized situational awareness
The Sea Tiger is not alone at the air base in Nordholz. The P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft is also stationed there. Both weapon systems are intended to contribute to an even more comprehensive maritime situation picture in the future. This is of particular importance in view of increasing submarine activity and possible threats to critical maritime infrastructure. In this way, the Naval Aviation Command continues to develop its capabilities for reconnaissance and impact from the air.
For Naval Aviation Wing 5, the introduction of the new on-board helicopter also means a comprehensive change in the previously known systems to a new type. The first Sea Tiger was handed over to the naval aviators in December 2025 and has been expanding the capabilities of the troops ever since.
Farewell with a special sign
As preparations for the new generation of helicopters progress, the Sea Lynx’s service life is nearing its end. Naval Aviation Wing 5 has already bid farewell to its long-time companion with a specially painted aircraft. Under the motto “End of an Era”, the farewell tour led to various military airfields in Germany.
After more than 120,000 flight hours and missions worldwide, an important chapter of naval aviation is coming to an end. At the same time, the focus is on the future: The NH-90 Sea Tiger strengthens the Navy’s capabilities for tomorrow’s combat management.