Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone
The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is a twin-engine, multi-role shipborne helicopter developed by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation for the Canadian Armed Forces. A military variant of the Sikorsky S-92, the CH-148 is designed for shipboard operations and replaced the CH-124 Sea King, which was in Canadian Armed Forces operation from 1963 to 2018.
| CH-148 Cyclone | |
|---|---|
| A CH-148 in 2020 | |
| Role | Maritime helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| First flight | 15 November 2008 |
| Introduction | July 2018 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Number built | 26 as of Dec. 2022 |
| Developed from | Sikorsky S-92 |
The Cyclone entered operational service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2018 and now conducts anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, and search and rescue missions from Royal Canadian Navy frigates. The helicopter also performs utility and transport roles in support of national and international security efforts. In 2004, Canada awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a contract for 28 CH-148s with deliveries originally planned to start in 2009. Deliveries were repeatedly delayed due to development issues and difficulty fulfilling contract requirements; the first deliveries, involving six initial helicopters (designated as Block 1), occurred during June 2015. Three years later, the Cyclone Block 2 achieved initial operating capability (IOC). The fleet was briefly grounded in early 2020 following a crash that was attributed to poor documentation and software flaws.