Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force

The Wildcat Maritime Force (WMF) is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and is responsible for deploying Royal Navy Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopters (HMA Mk 2) to the frontline. The force comprises 2 Squadrons: a frontline Maritime Interdiction and Ship’s embarked Flights Squadron, 815 NAS and a training and conversion Squadron, 825 NAS.

Flying the nimble, fast and potent Wildcat, 815 Naval Air Squadron has up to 20 Flights deployed at sea in one of Her Majesty's Ships or Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, providing aviation support to the Fleet on the frontline.

Wildcat is the latest generation of multi role helicopter and is a lightweight, versatile helicopter capable of operating in all weathers delivering exceptional military capability in support of maritime, littoral and land manoeuvre, force protection and maritime strike. Most recently the Force has introduced a new missile system: Martlet, as part of the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme, which has now deployed with the Carrier Strike Group on its’ maiden operational deployment.

825 Naval Air Squadron is the newest Squadron of the WMF, with a proud history including Second World War attacks on the German Fleet, during Operation Fuller (known as the Channel Dash); participation in the attack on the Bismarck and in more recent years during the 1982 Falkland’s War. The Squadron is now responsible for training aircrew and engineers to fly, operate and maintain both the Wildcat HMA Mk2 as well as the Wildcat AH Mk1 (the Army Helicopter variant), the latter being part of an innovative scheme to asset share with other Yeovilton based Squadrons outside of WMF.

The Wildcat Training Centre (WTC) is the facility responsible for providing Technical and Simulation Training to all RN and Army Wildcat Operators based at Yeovilton, including both Engineers and Aircrew. There are over 60 different courses that use the latest technology to ensure the Instruction is at the highest level. 2 Full Mission Simulators, 2 procedural (non-moving) simulators as well as 2 ‘airframes’ are utilised to teach mechanical and avionic systems with the facility run by a mixture of Civilian (AgustaWestland) staff, Royal Navy Aircrew Instructors and Army Tactical Instructors.