LONDON, March 31 (UPI) -- AgustaWestland was selected by the British Defense Ministry to provide Lynx helicopter upgrades in a move to support operations in Afghanistan.
The Defense Ministry contracted AgustaWestland's South Somerset, England, unit to support the Lynx helicopter upgrade to the modernized Mk9A standard.
Under the approximately $63.56 million deal, AgustaWestland will upgrade 12 Lynx helicopters. Officials say the upgrades are designed to improve the aircraft engines, airframe, instruments and electronics to support operations in Afghanistan.
"This improved version of the very successful Lynx helicopter will greatly benefit our troops in Afghanistan when it deploys there for the first time next month," Quentin Davies, British Defense Equipment and Support minister, said in a statement.
"The enhancements will allow it to perform in the extremes of climate and geography that characterize that theater of operations."
