Profile of a UK forces' mainstay

Three airmen were killed in a Lynx crashed in Leicestershire in 1999

The Lynx helicopter is a mainstay of the British Army and Navy.

It is described by the Ministry of Defence as "a deadly tank-killer" when equipped with anti-armour missiles.

But the Lynx has suffered from a range of problems during its 30-year history.

Its most serious accident is believed to have been in 1989 when nine men from the Royal Navy were killed in Kenya.

There are four versions of the Lynx - two within the Army and two used by the Royal Navy.

The Army's AH7 with skids, and the wheeled AH9 can each carry three crew members, including a door gunner, and 10 troops.

Amphibious operations

The aircraft - powered by two Rolls Royce engines - can be launched quickly, often in about 12 minutes.

They can carry missile counter-measures, a stabilised roof sight and door guns, said the MoD.

The Royal Navy's Lynx Mk8 is primarily an anti-surface and anti-submarine helicopter designed to operate from frigates and destroyers.

Lynx aircraft are able to fire the Sea Skua anti-surface missile, used during the Gulf war, and they form an integral part of the ship's detection and weapon system.

KEY LYNX CRASHES 1989: Kenya crash kills nine crew from the Royal Navy 1998: Three servicemen killed during air tests in Bosnia 1999: Leicestershire crash kills three crew 2001: Two crew escape after crashing into the Arabian Sea 2002: Two perish when Lynx comes down off coast of US 2004: Navy crash in Antarctica seriously injures three people 2004 Crash in Czech Republic kills six soldiers 2004: Lynx, carrying four crew, crashes into the sea off the coast of Cornwall

The Navy's attack version of the Lynx is operated in support of the Royal Marines in conjunction with the Commando Sea King.

It fires the TOW anti-armour missile, working with the Land Force Commander against tanks and armoured personnel carriers during amphibious operations.

Lynx makers Westland won a contract in 2002 worth more than £20m to develop the Future Lynx which incorporates an improved airframe, new engines and a modern avionics suite.

Since its launch in the early 1970s the Lynx has suffered from a number of problems.

Following a military exercise in Oman, a 2002 National Audit Office report said some essential equipment on the Lynx was unable to stand desert conditions.

Among the findings was a need for more maintenance work.

Four years ago, most of the Navy's Lynxes were grounded following problems with the rotor mechanism.

In May 1999, three airmen were killed when their Lynx suffered "catastrophic engine failure" and crashed on farmland near Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire.

Door broke

An inquest heard how a vital gearbox component had sheared off, leading to the gearbox disintegrating and a bolt being fired into a fuel tank.

Speaking on behalf of the bereaved families aviation disaster lawyer Geraldine McCool said there was a "history of numerous problems and failures" with the Lynx.

Engine modifications were carried out in a bid to prevent similar accidents.

Extra checks on the helicopter were also ordered after a crash in 1998 which killed three servicemen on routine air tests in Bosnia.

The accident was caused by a problem with the tail rotor, an inquiry found.

In the 1989 Kenya crash the aircraft split in half and crashed to the ground after one of its doors broke loose and flew through the tail rotor.

Modifications were carried out to the fleet and restrictions imposed on the opening and closing of doors in-flight.