Aircraft

Australian defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon has met with senior officials from Kaman Aerospace and its parent company to discuss the country’s troubled SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite shipborne helicopter programme, but no decision has been made on the programme’s future.

Confirmation of the meeting comes after local media reports suggested that Australia’s new Labor government has decided to axe the delayed programme and replace the aircraft with additional NH Industries MRH90s. This has been denied by the defence ministry, which says no timescale has been set for a decision.

“We have not been informed of any decision, but we are aware that the new government is assessing our programme,” says Kaman senior vice-president Russell Jones. “We are confident that we are performing our obligations under the programme, and we continue to execute on our responsibilities.”

Australia ordered 11 Super Seasprites – upgraded former US Navy SH-2Fs – in 1997, with deliveries planned from 2001. But the programme has suffered ongoing problems with the helicopter’s Integrated Tactical Avionics System, which is not expected to deliver fleet-wide functionality until 2010-11, while an issue with its automatic flight control system has resulted in lengthy delays and grounding.

Australia’s former Coalition government reviewed the Super Seasprite programme last year, but opted to continue with it amid concerns over possible legal action by Kaman, a lack of suitable replacement types and programme costs of A$1 billion ($920 million).