Westland Sea King - Variants | Technology Trends

Variants

Sea King HAS.1: The first anti-submarine version for the Royal Navy, with Gnome H.1400 engines, a five-bladed tail rotor, a Plessey Type 195 dipping sonar and MEL ARI 5995 search radar in a dorsal radome. The Westland Sea King HAS.1 first flew on 7 May 1969. 56 built, many of which were converted to HAS.2.
Sea King HAS.2: Upgraded anti-submarine version for the Royal Navy, based on Australian Mk 50. More powerful Gnome H.1400-1 engines, six bladed tail rotor and upgraded avionics (including new Type 2069 dipping sonar, and improved navigation and communications equipment; 21 new build aircraft plus conversions from HAS.1s. Some were later converted for AEW (Airborne Early Warning) duties.
Sea King AEW.2: Conversion of Sea King HAS.1 or HAS.2s into AEW aircraft after lack of AEW cover was revealed during the Falklands War. Fitted with Thorn EMI Searchwater radar in inflatable radome, with sonar removed. Normally flown with three person (pilot and two observers) crew compared with four-person crew for ASW Sea Kings. Nine converted.
Sea King HAR.3: Search and rescue version for the Royal Air Force. Fitted with relocated rear cabin bulkhead giving greater cabin length, extra fuel and additional observation windows; 19 built.
Sea King HAR.3A: Improved search and rescue version of the Sea King HAR.3 for the Royal Air Force. Fitted with upgraded avionics; six built.
Sea King HC.4 / Westland Commando: Commando assault and utility transport version for the Royal Navy, with simplified undercarriage, and lengthened cabin. Capable of transporting 28 fully equipped troops; 42 built.
Sea King HC.4X: One aircraft first flown on 10 April 1989 for the Empire Test Pilots' School.
Sea King Mk.4X: Two helicopters based on the HC.4 for trials/test beds at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Fitted with various nose and/or dorsal sensor installations.
Sea King HAS.5: Upgraded anti-submarine warfare version for the Royal Navy, with longer range MEL Super Searcher radar in enlarged dorsal radome, new AQS902 acoustic processing system with provision to use sonobouys. Entered service in June 1981; 30 new build aircraft plus about 55 converted from earlier versions. Some later converted into the HAR.5 for Search and Rescue.
Sea King HAR.5: Conversion of HAS.5 to search and rescue role for the Royal Navy, with ASW equipment removed but retaining Sea Searcher radar.
Sea King AEW.5: Four Sea King HAS.5s were converted into AEW helicopters for the Royal Navy.
Sea King HU.5: Surplus HAS.5 ASW helicopters converted into utility role for the Royal Navy.
Sea King HAS.6: Upgraded anti-submarine warfare version for the Royal Navy. fitted with improved avionics, with new sonar processor, improved tactical displays and better communications equipment; five new build aircraft plus conversions.
Sea King HAS.6(CR): Five surplus HAS.6 ASW helicopters converted into the utility role for the Royal Navy. The last of the Royal Navy's HAS.6(CR) helicopters was retired from service with 846 NAS on 31 March 2010.
Sea King ASaC7: Upgraded AEW2/5 for the Royal Navy with Searchwater 2000AEW replacing original Searchwater radar.
Sea King Mk.41: Search and rescue version of the Sea King HAS.1 for the German Navy, with longer cabin; 23 built, delivered between 1973 and 1975. A total of 20 were upgraded from 1986 onwards with additional Ferranti Seaspray radar in nose and capability to carry four Sea Skua Anti-ship missiles.
Sea King Mk.42: Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS.1 for the Indian Navy; 12 built.
Sea King Mk.42A: Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS.2 for the Indian Navy, fitted with haul-down system for operating from small ships; three built.
Sea King Mk.42B: Multi-purpose version for the Indian Navy, equipped for anti-submarine warfare, with dipping sonar and advanced avionics, and anti-shipping operations, with two Sea Eagle missiles; 21 built (one crashing before delivery).
Sea King Mk.42C: Search and rescue/utility transport version for the Indian Navy with nose mounted Bendix search radar; six built.
Sea King Mk.43: Search and rescue version of the Sea King HAS.1 for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, with lengthened cabin; 10 built.
Sea King Mk.43A: Uprated version of the Sea King Mk.43 for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, with airframe of Mk.2 but engines of Mk.1; single example built.
Sea King Mk.43B: Upgraded version of the Sea King Mk.43 for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Upgraded avionics, including MEL Sea Searcher radar in large dorsal radome, weather radar in nose and FLIR turret under nose. Three new-build plus upgrade of remaining Mk.43 and Mk.43A helicopters.
Sea King Mk.45: Anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare version of the Sea King HAS.1 for the Pakistan Navy. Provision for carrying Exocet anti-ship missile; six built.
Sea King Mk.45A: One ex-Royal Navy Sea King HAS.5 helicopter was sold to Pakistan as an attrition replacement.
Sea King Mk.47: Anti-submarine version of the Sea King HAS.2 for the Egyptian Navy; six built.
Sea King Mk.48: Search and rescue version for the Belgian Air Force. Airframe similar to HAS.2 but with extended cabin; five built, delivered 1976.
Sea King Mk.50: Multi-role version for the Royal Australian Navy, equivalent to (but preceding) HAS.2; 10 built.
Sea King Mk.50A: Two improved Sea Kings were sold to the Royal Australian Navy as part of a follow-on order in 1981.
Sea King Mk.50B: Upgraded multi-role version for the Royal Australian Navy.
Commando Mk.1: Minimum change assault and utility transport version for the Egyptian Air Force, with lengthened cabin but retaining sponsons with floatation gear; five built.

Commando Mk.2: Improved assault and utility transport version for the Egyptian Air Force, fitted with more powerful engines, non-folding rotors and omitting undercarriage sponsons and floatation gear; 17 built.
Commando Mk.2A: Assault and utility transport version for the Qatar Emiri Air Force, almost identical to Egyptian Mk.2; three built.
Commando Mk.2B: VIP transport version of Commando Mk.2 for the Egyptian Air Force; two built.
Commando Mk.2C: VIP transport version of Commando Mk.2A for the Qatar Emiri Air Force; one built.
Commando Mk.2E: Electronic warfare version for the Egyptian Air Force, fitted with integrated ESM and jamming system, with radomes on side of fuselage; four built.
Commando Mk.3: Anti-ship warfare version for the Qatar Emiri Air Force, fitted with dorsal radome and capable of carrying two Exocet missiles. Eight built.