New Zealand has accepted the first Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite maritime helicopter, following upgrade work performed by the manufacturer.
To be operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy, the first of batch of three rotorcraft will arrive in Auckland in early 2015. The remaining seven aircraft from the $120 million order will follow by end-2015, Kaman says.
Wellington intends to field a total of eight Super Seasprites, with a further two examples as spares.
Its current fleet of five SH-2Gs have been in service since the late 1990s and will be retired.
The 10 airframes were originally built for Australia, but in 2009 Canberra cancelled the contract after cost overruns and persistent technical issues. They have been stored at Kaman’s Connecticut facility ever since.
Refurbishment work has included the installation of new communications equipment and sensors. Kongsberg Penguin anti-ship missiles will also be integrated on the platform.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
