| SH-2G Super Seasprite | |
|---|---|
| A Royal New Zealand Navy SH-2G | |
| Role | ASW helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Kaman Aircraft Corporation |
| Primary users | United States Navy (historical) Egyptian Navy Royal New Zealand Navy Polish Navy |
| Unit cost | US$26 million (SH-2G) |
| Developed from | SH-2 Seasprite |
The Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter with anti-submarine, anti-surface threat capability, including over-the-horizon targeting. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including submarines of all types, surface ships, and patrol craft that may be armed with anti-ship missiles. It was originally developed for the United States Navy in 1980s.
The SH-2G's primary missions include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, anti-ship missile defense, and anti-ship surveillance and targeting. Secondary missions may include medical evacuation, search and rescue, personnel and cargo transfer, as well as small boat interdiction, amphibious assault air support, gun fire spotting, mine detection and battle damage assessment.
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In 1985 the SH-2G program was started. The US Navy wanted better anti-submarine capabilities and felt upgrading current helicopters would be a more cost effective approach. The prototype YSH-2G first flew on 2 April 1985. The prototype was a modified SH-2F fitted with two more powerful General Electric T700-GE-401/401C engines.[1]
The G-model has a reinforced upper fuselage to support the new, heavier engines.[1] The SH-2G also has multifunctional displays and new avionic systems.[2] The Navy began receiving Airborne Mine Counter Measures (AMCM) hardware with the Kaman Magic Lantern laser mine detection system in December 1996.[3]
The US Navy's final production order of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986 with the last six orders switched to the SH-2G variant.[1]
The SH-2G Super Seasprite was retired by the US Navy Reserve in 2001 but currently remains in active service with the Egyptian Navy, the Polish Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) decided it needed an intermediate helicopter to operate from both ANZAC class frigates and an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) it had hoped to build in conjunction with Malaysia. The OPVs, being smaller than the Anzac class, required a smaller helicopter than those being operated by the RAN at the time. In 1997, the Australian Government signed a A$667 million contract with Kaman to purchase 11 upgraded Super Seasprites.[4] However, the OPV was effectively abandoned in February 1998, when Malaysia selected a German tender over the one submitted by the Australian company Transfield, now known as Tenix.[5] The RAN began operating SH-2G(A) Super Seasprites in 2003.
By February 2007, 10 Super Seasprites had been delivered to the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm, to be operated by 805 Squadron.[4][6] However, as early as 2005 up to 40 deficiencies had been identified in the helicopters, including their inability to operate in bad weather and low light conditions, and their inability to meet Australian airworthiness certification standards.[6] This led to the helicopters being restricted to "passenger and supply transport in good weather", and in May 2006 to the complete grounding of the squadron.[6][7] The problems were attributed to the fitting of a late 1990s avionics package to a 1960s airframe.
In February 2007, The Australian ran an article announcing that the Seasprite project is "almost certain to be scrapped".[4] At this point the project was running six years over schedule, and its cost had blown out to A$1.1 billion, with A$45 million in additional costs if a decision was taken to upgrade the helicopters.[4] If approved, the upgrade would take a further 29 months, with the squadron not reaching full operational status until at least 2010.[4] Scrapping or selling of the helicopters was an option also under consideration, with possible replacements including purchase of the NHIndustries NH90, or expansion of the number of S-70 Seahawks currently in service.[4]
On 25 May 2007 The Age reported that the government had decided to persevere with the Seasprite helicopter project. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson announced that the government would take steps to ensure that contractor progress was measured against milestones during the course of additional work. Return of the Seasprites to flying operations would involve a series of controlled steps to assess the safety, performance and reliability of the aircraft.[8]
Following the election of the new Labor government, The Australian reported on 31 January 2008 that the SH-2G(A) program was likely to be cancelled due to cost and time over-runs, as well as the aircraft still not being operational despite the original contract being signed in 1997. The same article also noted that Sikorsky had submitted an offer to the Australian government consisting of a number of 'off the shelf' helicopters, likely a SH-60/S-70B variant, as a replacement for the troubled SH-2G(A)s.[9]
Following a review of the project, the Australian Government cancelled the contract for the helicopters on 5 March 2008.[10] Kaman Corp confirmed that it had been notified by the Labor Government that it would end the SH-2G(A) program "on mutually agreed terms".[11][12] The decision to cancel the purchase was supported by the federal opposition.[13] Left without aircraft, 805 Squadron was disbanded on 26 June 2008.[14] Australia returned its SH-2G(A)s to Kaman.[15]
In June, the entrepreneur Dick Smith offered a $50,000 award for investigative journalism to examine the cancelled contract, on issues of accountability and related Government policies, without result.
In 1995, Egypt contracted for 10 SH-2G aircraft in a dipping sonar configuration for the Egyptian Navy. The first deliveries under this program took place in 1997. One aircraft was lost at sea in 2006.
New Zealand purchased five SH-2Gs at the same time as Australia, but with different avionics. The New Zealand aircraft were new-build airframes. The SH-2G purchase was completed at NZ$12 million under the $338 million budgeted (excluding GST). The first RNZN SH-2G was delivered in mid-2001, and the last was delivered February 2003.
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) operates the type from its two Anzac class frigates, two Protector class offshore patrol vessels, and HMNZS Canterbury Multi Role vessel. They were initially operated by the Naval Support Flight of No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, but now from No. 6 Squadron RNZAF. However, the Seasprites are crewed by a Navy Pilot, TACCO and a Helicopter Crewman.
The Polish Navy operates four of these aircraft, which were included in the purchase of two Perry class frigates from the United States Navy. The frigates are now operating as ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko and ORP Generał Kazimierz Pułaski. In 2007 they were modified to carry one MU90 Impact torpedo and a 7.62 mm PK machine gun on pivot mounting.[16]
Beginning in 1991, the US Navy received 24 SH-2Gs, which were assigned to US Navy Reserve units. The Super Seasprite entered service with HSL-84 in 1993.[3] The SH-2 served in some 600 Navy deployments and flew 1.5 million flight hours. The Navy Reserve retired the last of the helicopter by June 2001.[3][17]
Data from The International Directory of Military Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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