Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Light airborne multi-purpose systems helicopter

Power Plant:

Two 1,285 kw (1,723 shp) General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts

Specifications:

History:

The Kaman Seasprite has had a remarkably long life in service with the United States Navy, the contract for its design being issued in 1957.  Since then it has been built in relatively small numbers, some 250 or so machines initially, but those built have been the subject of a considerable number of rebuilds to meet new requirements, and have been the subject of the allocation of a number of designations. The Seasprite has seen service with the US Navy fleets all over the world as an all-weather, high-speed, long-range, search-and-rescue helicopter. It was initially designated  HU2K-1 and fitted with a single General Electric T58-GE-6 turboshaft providing 653 kw (875 shp). The prototype flew on 2 July 1959.

With a crew of two the cabin could accommodate up to 12 passengers, or two stretchers and four seated occupants. It had a watertight hull, retractable undercarriage, and flotation bags. Initially a total of 190 was built, comprising 58 UH-2As and 102 UH-2Bs. Later 40 were converted to UH-2C configuration, these being used for plane-guard duties on board aircraft carriers of the US Navy fleet.

To meet LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) needs of the US Navy, 104 were converted to SH-2D and SH-2F configuration. Some 80 odd ships in the US Navy required this class of machine, two per ship, and in the mid 1980s a further 54 examples of the SH-2F were built. The SH-2D had two 932 kw (1,250 shp) General Electric T58-GE-8B engines in lieu of the single unit, two external fixed stores stations to carry Mk 46 torpedoes or fuel tanks, and an up-rated 272 kg (600 lb) capacity hoist. SH-2Fs flew extensively in the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq War during the 1980s, and also served during the Gulf War.

Kaman has also produced the SH-2G, this being developed during the mid 1980s as a result of the US Navy’s decision to keep its ‘Knox Class’ frigates until 2015. This model was fitted with two General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts, each providing 1,285 kw (1,723 shp), and a new avionics suite built around a MIL STD 1553b databus, including a 99 channel UYS-503 acoustic processor, etc.

The prototype SH-2G first flew in April 1985 and six new machines were delivered in the early 1990s, followed by 18 re-manufactured SH-2Fs. However, funding cuts forced the retirement of the US Navy ‘Knox Class’ frigates and the Super Seasprites were then relegated to flying from ‘Oliver Hazard Perry Class’ (FFG) frigates. Subsequently, as US Navy SH-2Fs were retired to the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, Kaman pursued the upgrading of machines to SH-2G standard and interest was shown in these by Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and Malaysia. A couple of examples of the SH-2F have visited this region on board US Navy vessels; and one (serial 2580) was shown to the Australian Department of Defence staff at Avalon, VIC in 1995.

In 1997 the Australian Government announced it had ordered the SH-2G Super Seasprite for the Australian ‘Anzac Class’ frigates. These were airframes re-built to a new standard, the airframes being offered with a 10,000 hour fatigue life. Known as the SH-2G(A) they were based on the SH-2G Super Seasprite and the main change was the two crew cockpit and the ITAS (Integrated Tactical Avionics System) designed by Litton, featuring four large colour multi-function displays. Also, it was offered with the General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshafts, giving commonality with the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Seahawk and the Australian Army’s Blackhawk helicopters.

Eleven machines were ordered to fulfil Project Sea 1411 to equip the ‘Anzac’ frigates, which comprised eight vessels, with entry into service in 2001. The Australian aircraft had a crew of two, pilot and TACCO/observer, with accommodation for up to eight armed troops in the main cabin. The first SH-2G(A) (N351KA – ex 163210) was flown on 6 January 2000, being delivered in March 2001.

First deliveries of the Australian aircraft were from the Kaman/SAFE Air Centre which was established at Nowra, NSW to construct and service the aircraft. However, fully compliant mission software development was delayed by technical problems with the ITAS (Integrated Tactical Avionics System) and Digital GPS/INS Automatic Flight Control, which put the program five years behind schedule and delayed delivery, which meant the whole of the Australian fleet would not be mission ready until 2005.

Further problems relating to the software and flight control system occurred and, following an anomalous flight condition with one of the RAN aircraft during training, the Operational Airworthiness Authority suspended flying operations in May 2006. At this time the Minister for Defence grounded the type over safety concerns and referred to possible cancellation of the program. At this time all 11 aircraft had been delivered.

In May 2007 the Australian Government opted to continue to complete the introduction of the Seasprite into service. In early 2008, following the change of the Australian Federal Government, the new Defence Minister ordered an investigation into the Seasprite program. Following this it was announced on 5 March that year that the project had been cancelled, and that the Seasprites were not likely to be sold because of problems related to safety issues with the machines. The machines were subsequently returned to Kaman in the United States.

Like some other types which have operated with the RAN over the years, the Seasprite had an unusual serial system. The Australian aircraft were: N29-149024 (c/n 28); N29-149773 (c/n 75); N29-150156 (c/n 106); N29-150160 (c/n 110); N29-151310 (c/n 147); N29-151329 (c/n 166); N29-152205 (c/n 189); N29-161656 (c/n 206); N29-161913 (c/n 224); N29-161914 (c/n 225) and N29-163210 (c/n 246). In addition, four further aircraft were allotted serials to be used for spare parts and as Instructional Airframes, these being: N29-151316 (c/n 153); N29-151330 (c/n 167); N29-152204 (c/n 188) and N29-152206 (c/n 190).

In March 1997 the New Zealand Government, which had previously indicated a preference for the European designed Lynx, announced it was ordering four examples of the SH-2G (NZ) for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). In the meantime it received four SH-2Fs on loan for crew training, the first being received in January 1998, receiving the serials NZ3441 to NZ3444 (c/ns 191, 236, 121 and 104 respectively), and remaining in service until the new SH-2G (NZ) machines arrived in 2001. Subsequently the SH-2Fs were retired, three being placed in storage in Auckland and NZ3442 going to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram.

The first SH-2G (NZ) [ex N352KA] was flown on 2 August 2000, the first two aircraft being delivered in mid 2002. These machines were to replace the Westland Wasp and to be operated from the ‘Anzac’ and ‘Leander’ Class frigates of the Royal New Zealand (RNZ) Navy, the type’s main weapon being the Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick missile. The operating unit was the Naval Support Flight of No 3 Squadron at Whenuapai. In early 2000 the New Zealand Government approved the purchase of a fifth SH-2G (NZ).

In 2009 the RNZAF obtained six SH-2Fs for use as Instructional Airframes at its base at Woodbourne. In 2011 the New Zealand Ministry of Defence stated the current fleet was falling short of its flight targets due to maintenance issues, including corrosion and vibration. In mid-2012 Kaman announced a potential sale of up to 11 SH-2G(1) Super Seasprites to New Zealand, the sale to include a full motion simulator, training aids, spares inventory, etc, these being the aircraft initially converted for the Australian Navy but which order was cancelled.

New Zealand Seasprites participated in naval exercises, counter-piracy and counter-narcotics operations in the Gulf of Aden, and cyclone relief in the south Pacific.

In early 2013 ten aircraft, comprising 8 Seasprites and 2 spare airframes, being the ex-Australian machines, were obtained, bringing the RNZ Navy fleet from five to eight, allowing them to be embarked on the two ‘Anzac’ Class frigates ‘HMNZS Te Mana’ and ‘HMNZS Te Kaha’, as well as offshore patrol vessels and the multi-role ship ‘HMNZS Canterbury’. These machines became known as the SH-2G (I). After storage in Connecticut, USA, they were returned to airworthiness, the first three being delivered in late 2014, all to be in service by 2016.

In 2014 it was proposed the five SH-2G (NZ) Seasprites which had been in service would be retired in 2015 and, through a Canadian company, these five aircraft were sold to the Peruvian Government for operation by the Peruvian Navy.