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SEA KING HC.4 (COMMANDO)

The Sea King HC4 Commando is a Medium Lift Support Helicopter flown by Royal Navy Air Squadrons (RNAS) of the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF). The Commando can carry up to 27 fully laden troops or 6,000 lbs (2,720 kg) internally. Underslung loads up to 2.5 tonnes, such as Land Rovers or L118 105mm howitzers can be carried attached to an external cargo hook.

The cockpits of Sea King HC.4s are compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs).

Sea King HC.4s are fitted with a Defensive Aids Suite comprising of:

Sky Guardian 2000 radar-warning receiver
Missile Approach Warning System
Infra Red Jammer
M130 chaff/flare dispenser.

Other avionics include :

Bowman secure communications suite
‘Elmer’ secure speech radio
Mode ‘C’ identification friend or foe system

The CHF's fleet of HC4s were upgraded in late 2007 with a new set of composite main rotor blades and a new set of 5-bladed tail rotors which enable the helicopter to operate in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Sea King HC4 Specifications

Engine	2 Rolls Royce Gnome 1400-1 Turboshafts (1,400 shp each)
Rotor diameter	18.9m
Length	22m
Width	3.78m
Height	4.72m
Crew	3 (2 Pilots, 1 Aircrewman)
Cruising Speed	208km/h (129mph) at sea level
Range (laden with 27 troops)	246 miles (396 km)

A Sea King HC.4 from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) on a NATO exercise.

photo credit : NATO

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