A new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter for the Canadian Navy has arrived at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shearwater in Nova Scotia to begin test trials.

CFB Shearwater media relations officer Captain Paul Finnemore said that a stripped-down test model arrived in Nova Scotia from the company’s facility in Florida, according to Canadian Press.

The helicopter will undergo several weeks of testing in a cold and hostile marine environment, carried out by an assessment team.

During the trials, the test model will carry a couple of dummy torpedoes to simulate actual flight conditions to more accurately evaluate the performance.

The Canadian Government is spending $5bn on 28 Cyclone helicopters, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered by June 2012.

The Cyclone helicopters will replace the navy’s aging fleet of Sea King helicopters, which will continue to be flown until their arrival.