Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite

Type (Muster)
Shipboard ASW and anti-ship helicopter (Marinehubschrauber für U-Jagd und Schiffsbekämpfung)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Kaman Aerospace
Old Windsor Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002

Phone: 001-860/243-7865
Fax: 001-860/243-6125

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 3
Passengers (Passagiere): up to 8 fully armed troops

Weapons: On outriggers on the fuselage side, the SH-2G can carry

2 x Mk.46 ASW torpedo
2 x Mk.50 ALWT torpedo
Mk.11 depth charge
2 x Penguin anti-ship missile
2 x Maverick
2 x Sea Skua anti-ship missile
Hellfire missiles
2.75 inch rockets

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts
Power (Leistung): 2 x 1285 kW (1723 shp) contingency rating; 2 x 1690 shp for 30 minutes maximum; 2 x 1437 shp maximum continuous.
Fuel consumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch): 0,21 kg/h/shp at intermediate power

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 12,24 m
Width (Breite über ausgef. Fahrwerk): 3,73 m
Overall length, rotors turning (Länge über alles): 16,00 m
Height (Höhe): 4,62 m over tail rotor
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 13,41 m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 2,46 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 4173 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 1800 l (476 US gal)
Useful load (Nutzlast): 2300 kg
Cargo hook capacity (Außenlast am Haken): 1810 kg
Max. take-off weigth (Max. Startmasse): 6115 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. level speed (max. Geschwindigkeit): 256 km/h at sea level
Normal cruise speed (normale Reisegeschwindigkeit): 222 km/h (120 kts)
Max. climb rate (max. Steigrate): 10,5 m/s
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 6218 m (20400 ft)
Hover in ground effect (Schwebeflughöhe im Bodeneffekt): 17600 ft (5365 m)
Hover out of ground effect (Schwebeflughöhe ohne Bodeneffekt): 14600 ft (4450 m)
Max. range (Reichweite): 1000 km (540 NM) at 5000 ft
Max. Endurance (max. Flugdauer): 5,3 h at 5000 ft

Costs (Kosten)
In 1993, the SH-2F to SH-2G conversion was quoted as 12 million US-Dollars. Ten for Egypt cost 150 million US-Dollar. US Navy fact sheet quotes 26 million US-Dollars.

Customers (Kunden)

US Navy: 6 new (plus rebuilds from SH-2Fs)
Egypt: 10 (rebuilds)
Australia: 11 (rebuilds)
New Zealand: 4 (rebuilds)

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
GKN Westland Super Lynx
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The original SH-2 Seasprite took off on July 2, 1959, and the US Navy over the years ordered various variants. Work on the SH-2G began in the 80s, and an engine testbed for the T700 engines, which replace the T58, flew in April 1985. A prototype with full avionics fit followed on 28. December 1989. First new production SG-2G was accepted into service with the US Navy Reserve Squadron HSL-84 at NAS North Island (San Diego) on February 25, 1993. The Super Seasprites are used for long-range surveillance, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare countermeasures, SAR and utility missions.
Equipment of the SH-2G includes an AQS-18A dipping sonar, an ARR-84 sonobuoy receiver, AQS magnetic anomaly detector, LN-66 radar and AKT-22 data link. Also, a 600 kg rescue hoist can be installed. Small arms mountings for guns and 2.75 inch rockets are available.
The first foreign sale of th SH-2G was announced in March 1995, when Egypt ordered 10 helicopters (all remanufactured from SH-2Fs). Value of the deal is put at more than 150 million US-Dollars with support. Official roll-out of the first SH-2G(E) was on October 21, 1997, although testing had been completed earlier. The first three machines were used for flight training at Pensacola NAS (Florida) before in-country delivery in the spring of 1998. The helicopters will fly from frigates and mainly be used in the anti-submarine warfare role, a new capability for the Egyptian military.The last SH-2G(E) were shipped to Borg Al-Arab air base near Alexandria in October 1998.
Other international customers for the SH-2G are Australia (11) and New Zealand (4), which selected the Kaman helicopter after fierce competitions in January an March 1997 respectively. Contracts were signed in June, worth 600 million US-Dollars for Australia and 185 million US-Dollars for New Zealand (including training, spares and Maverick missiles).
Deliveries to Australia are to start in the year 2001 for operation from the Ran's eight ANZAC class frigates. These helicopters will be equipped with Penguin missiles, composite rotors and an advanced Integrated Tactical Avionics System (ITAS).
New Zealand will get its SH-2G(NZ) Super Seasprites from June 2000 for operation aboard its ANZAC and Leander Class frigates. It has opted for new airframes as well as the all-composite rotor blades (15000 hour service life). As an interim measure, four SH-2Fs from US government stocks were handed over in 1998, to allow early operator training and replace the obsolete Wasps

Last updated 24 November 1998

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