Designed to operate from Frigates, Destroyers as well as larger surface craft the Lynx MK8 is the Navys current ASW patrol helicopter. The very prominent nose modification incorporating the Sea Spray radar and the Sea Owl thermal imager along with the new BERP rotor blades transformed the HMA MK8 Lynx into an even more capable ASW helicopter. Armed with the very effective Sea Skua missiles as well as door mounted machine guns the Lynx is a versatile and very manoeuvrable helicopter. Exported throughout the world the Lynx has proved popular and effective in service with nations such as Denmark, Germany, Brazil and Portugal. The Mk8 made its service debut with HMS Montrose in 1995 and has continued to serve the Royal Navy in all its operational deployments, from Iraq to current Anti-Piracy operations off the East Coast of Africa.