SH-2G(I) in service

[ErrolC]

www.verticalmag.com/news/article/KamandeliversfirstSH2GItoNewZealand

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) has accepted the first Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopter for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Acceptance occurred at Kaman’s facility in Bloomfield, Conn.

...
Additional aircraft are scheduled to be accepted by the MoD in the next few weeks. The first three aircraft are projected to arrive in Auckland in early 2015 with the remaining deliveries of helicopters and equipment expected to occur by the end of 2015.

Large earlier thread covering issues with the SH-2G(NZ)s, and morphing into coverage of the SH-2G(I) procurement:
rnzaf.proboards.com/post/187707/thread

[Dave Homewood]

Are they shiny black too?

[ErrolC]

Sadly a very boring grey! Actually what NZ military aircraft aren't grey?

Sent from my D5503 using proboards

[suthg]

We in NZ work our aircraft hard, and our current Seasprites have worked tirelessly and have been recently regularly down in availability due to age related factors. This is great news! Looking forward to the new birds arriving and being put into service.

www.navy.mil.nz/mtf/na/rec-act/questions-and-answers-purchase-of-sh-2gi-seasprites.htm

Why do we need new helicopters?

• The current Seasprite fleet is nearly 15 years old and some of the systems are failing. Spare parts are becoming scarce. Manufacturers no longer support some of the systems, and newer versions have improved capabilities.
• The current fleet of five helicopters is too small. Only two aircraft are regularly available for use on the Navy’s ships (one is used for training and two are in maintenance).
• Five of the Navy’s ships can operate a helicopter. This is up from three when the current Seasprites were acquired. To get full value from our investment in the frigates and other naval vessels, we need a larger fleet of helicopters with upgraded components and better communications capability.

What does the Kaman package include?

• The Kaman package consists of ten Super Seasprite helicopters (two will be used as spares), a full motion flight simulator, training aids, spares inventory and publications.

How do the new aircraft differ from the current fleet?

• The new aircraft have updated flight control systems and modern radar and sensors. They also have a modern communications system that allows sensor data to be shared between the helicopter and ship.
• The new sensors provide a much greater range and ability for surveillance and search and rescue.

Has the NZDF tested the aircraft?

• Defence Force personnel have conducted several evaluation flights in one of these helicopters. The pilot and crew members were impressed by the step-up in capabilities these new aircraft will bring to the Defence Force.
• Separately, Marinvent Corporation, the Canadian airworthiness expert contracted by Defence to examine the aircraft, were involved in flight trials as part of their own evaluation process.

What missile does the new Seasprite carry?

• Our current fleet of Seasprites carries a Maverick missile, which is a general-purpose air-to-surface missile, designed for use against ground targets and shipping. The new aircraft will carry the Penguin missile, which is an anti-ship missile.
• The Penguin is a better missile. It is bigger, faster, has a warhead three times the size of the Maverick, has twice the range, and once launched the aircraft is free to turn-away. The Penguin can also perform random weaving manoeuvres and strike the target close to the waterline, making it more difficult to counter.

More on the link above.

[phil]

Dec 2, 2014 19:28:34 GMT 12 ErrolC said:

Sadly a very boring grey! Actually what NZ military aircraft aren't grey?

Sent from my D5503 using proboards

Actually they are three shades of grey.

A medium greenish grey on top, a slightly lighter medium grey on the sides, and a light grey (not quite white) on the underside. (Sorry I haven't got the FS colour codes).

So not totally boring.

[raymond]

I take it that the "tall" building going up by the 6 Sqn hangar is for the flight sim?

[ErrolC]

Dec 2, 2014 20:23:23 GMT 12 phil said:

Dec 2, 2014 19:28:34 GMT 12 ErrolC said:

Sadly a very boring grey! Actually what NZ military aircraft aren't grey?

Sent from my D5503 using proboards

Actually they are three shades of grey.

A medium greenish grey on top, a slightly lighter medium grey on the sides, and a light grey (not quite white) on the underside. (Sorry I haven't got the FS colour codes).

So not totally boring.

Compared to the Hercs and Orions, positively garish!
The couple of low-quality photos I've seen of the I's being tested didn't show any visible variation

[ErrolC]

Update on arrival timing in this release about disposal of the G(NZ)'s

The first of the five Seasprites is scheduled to be shipped from New Zealand after three of the new replacement helicopters arrive in January. Subsequent shipments have been timed to ensure the Navy is able to introduce the new helicopters into service before all the current Seasprite helicopters leave New Zealand.

[beagle]

Five Navy helicopters sold to Peru


Five Royal New Zealand Navy Seasprite helicopters have been sold to Peru, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

“Our recent purchase of eight new, more sophisticated Seasprite helicopters meant the older model Seasprites were available for sale and a deal has been struck with the Peruvian Government for them to buy them for their Navy,” Mr Brownlee says.

As well as the helicopters, Peru is buying spares and the Maverick missiles which are used with the helicopters.

New Zealand has worked closely with a number of parties to make the sale happen, including a Canadian Government entity, the Canadian Commercial Corporation, which is acting as agent for the Peruvian Government, and the United States Government, which has had to approve the export from New Zealand of the American manufactured helicopters and missiles.

Mr Brownlee says a good price of $30 million has been achieved for the helicopters. After the deduction of some costs, the remainder will return to the Defence Capital Plan.

The first of the five Seasprites is scheduled to be shipped from New Zealand after three of the new replacement helicopters arrive in January. Subsequent shipments have been timed to ensure the Navy is able to introduce the new helicopters into service before all the current Seasprite helicopters leave New Zealand.

The five Seasprites have been used on the two frigates, TE KAHA and TE MANA, and the multi-role ship, CANTERBURY.

[noooby]

So would that be more for 5 helicopters than we got for the whole of Strike Wing? Glad they got some good money for them!

[ErrolC]

First one in-country

Chief of Navy NZ @jackrs55

The first of the new Sea Sprite helicopters arrive in Akld. Part of the future for our Navy and the NZDF #kiwinavy

/photo/1

15 Jan 2015 14:54

[Dave Homewood]

I'd really laugh if they unwrapped it and found a Skyhawk under the white plastic.

[baz62]

Ha ha ha nice one Dave!

[phil]

Nope, there were definitely Seasprites in there.

[ErrolC]

Chief of Navy NZ @jackrs55

3 of our new helicopters unwrapped and in the hangar. Great way to start 2015. #kiwinavy

/photo/1

26 Jan 2015 11:38 via iOS

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[beagle]

A darker grey than the NZ variant

[frankly]

Ref the thread about frigate purchase controversy, it's worth noting that neither the original Seasprite purchase ($338, 1998) or the latest batch $242M) has raised barely a breath of protest from any mainstreams commentators or politicians. That's nearly $742M in nominal 2015 NZ dollars.

[suthg]

Looks like they would fit in a C-17 very easily taking the tail rotor off I guess and folding the main rotor blades.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using proboards

[lesterpk]

Tail rotors fold too.

[phil]

Jan 26, 2015 15:09:28 GMT 12 beagle said:

A darker grey than the NZ variant

3 greys.

two are darker, one is lighter...