Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone
The CH-148 Cyclone is a twin‑engine, ship‑based helicopter built by Sikorsky for Canada. It is a military version of the Sikorsky S‑92 and is designed to operate from Royal Canadian Navy ships, replacing the Sea King helicopter after many years in service (1963–2018). The Cyclone began service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2018 and works from frigates for anti‑submarine warfare, surveillance, search and rescue, and transportation tasks.
Development and delivery: Canada ordered 28 CH‑148s in 2004. Deliveries were delayed by development problems, with the first six (Block 1) arriving in 2015. The Block 2 version reached initial operating capability in 2018.
Design and equipment: The Cyclone is not amphibious. It features a larger four‑blade main rotor and a redesigned main gearbox. It carries sensors for submarine hunting and surveillance, including radar APS‑143B, FLIR SAFIRE III, sonar L‑3 HELRAS, and ESM AN/ALQ‑210. An Integrated Mission System is built by General Dynamics Canada, and flight management is handled by CMA‑2082MH.
Operational history: The helicopter was briefly grounded in early 2020 after a crash linked to documentation and software issues. In 2021, tail cracks were found on several helicopters, with fixes completed by the end of that year. The fleet continues to operate on Canadian and international missions, including Operation Reassurance. The final Block 2 aircraft was delivered in October 2025.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:30 (CET).