Editing Westland Helicopters (section)

===1980s===
The company gradually fell into unprofitability. Sikorsky approached with a bail-out deal in 1985 that split the [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]] and led to the resignation of Defence Secretary [[Michael Heseltine]] in January 1986 over the fate of Britain's sole helicopter manufacturer. The split, which became known as the [[Westland affair]], was over whether to push the company into a European deal or accept the US company's offer. Eventually, the link with Sikorsky was accepted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.whl.co.uk/page4.html|title=AGUSTAWESTLAND - Westland History -|website=history.whl.co.uk}}</ref> This saw both Sikorsky and Fiat acquire minority shareholdings in Westland.<ref name='ind'>{{cite news |last=Betts |first=Paul |date=1994-02-09 |title=Swoop for a tempting morsel: GKN's bid for Westland comes as the helicopter industry undergoes restructuring |work=Financial Times }}</ref> In 1988 [[GKN]] bought a 22% share of Westland from [[Hanson plc]] and Fiat.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harrison|first=Michael|date=4 October 1988 |title=GKN plots new course: Michael Harrison on the strategy of Westland's latest shareholder |work=The Independent }}</ref>

In 1984, Westland proposed the WG 44 light [[attack helicopter]] based on the Lynx dynamics, incorporating [[low observable]] technologies derived from its SUPERVISOR and PHOENIX [[unmanned aircraft system|UAS]] projects experience in 1977–1983.<ref name='RAS16jan2018'/>
In 1987, in parallel with the [[Agusta A129]] supported by Westland, [[Fokker]], [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm|MBB]] and [[Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA|CASA]], its WG 47 development was completed as a confidential private venture with a [[facet]]ed fuselage, [[Weapons bay|internal weapons]] and twin canted [[tail rotor]]s.<ref name='RAS16jan2018'/>
A side-exiting [[infrared]] suppressor integrated the exhausts and its [[tandem]] cockpit with the pilot in front had transparencies angled outward to eliminate [[Reflection (physics)|optical glint]].<ref name=RAS16jan2018/>
This presaged the US Army [[Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche]], rolled out in 1995 and cancelled in 2004, while the fuselage shaping was retained for the [[NH90]].<ref name='RAS16jan2018'>{{cite news |url= https://www.aerosociety.com/news/exclusive-1980s-uk-secret-stealth-attack-helicopter-project-revealed/ |title= 1980s UK secret stealth attack helicopter project revealed |author= Jeremy Graham |date= 16 January 2018 |publisher= Royal Aeronautical Society}}</ref>