1958


Kaman Seasprite







Seasprite was originally conceived as a small-ships, single engined combat search and rescue airframe for the US Navy. The prototype first flew on 2 Jul 1959. 184 UH-2A/B were built between 1961 and 1963. Between 1967 and 1970 most were upgraded to UH-2C or HH-2C by retrofit of twin 1250 SHP T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. Further modifications to LAMPS-1 standard in 1973 for some airframes. Upgrades to ASW equipped SH-3D for further airframes. Production restarted in 1981 in response to President Reagans 600 ship fleet inititative and the delay to the SH-60B Seahawk, with more powerful (1350 SHP) T58-GE-8F twin engines and the Kaman 101 rotor system which became the SH-2F. All remaining US Navy -C models have been upgraded to -F.
Plans announced in 1985 to provide an improved version of the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, mainly for the us export market (initially for south korea and taiwan). By 2001, airframes were in use in Australia, Egypt, New Zealand and Poland.

The SH-2G Super Seasprite has improved twin GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.


  Seasprite News


Kaman Opens New Customer Service Center

Kaman Opens New Customer Service Center

18-Jul-19 - Kaman has opened a new customer service center to support both its K-MAX and Seasprite customers with a new Flight Training Device (FTD). Located at headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut replaces legacy accommodations #Kaman
First Mission for New SH-2G (I) Seasprite

First Mission for New SH-2G (I) Seasprite

15-Sep-16 - New Zealand ’s newly acquired SH-2G(I) Seasprite first operational mission with an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) resupply the Kermadec Islands
Kaman Seasprite Spares Depot in Egypt

Kaman Seasprite Spares Depot in Egypt

13-Jul-16 - U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Kaman contract for the establishment of depot level maintenance capabilities for Egypt’s SH-2G(E) helicopter program at Helwan near Cairo
Commence Implementation Phase for Peru SH-2G

Commence Implementation Phase for Peru SH-2G

12-Jul-16 - Kaman secured u$s 39.8M contract with General Dynamics Mission Systems—Canada to commence work on the implementation phase of the Peruvian Navy s SH-2G Super Seasprite program.
New Zealand Commences SH-2G(I) Simulator Training

New Zealand Commences SH-2G(I) Simulator Training

17-Nov-15 - CAE commenced the provision of maintenance and support services on the New Zealand Defence Force s (NZDF) SH-2G(I) helicopter training devices.
    More News ...


Specifications Seasprite


Engine 1 x GE T58
Capacity 3
Length (m) 15.9
Height (m) 4.11
Blades 4
Rotor diam. (m) 13.41
Disc area (m2) 141.26
Weight (kgs) Empty: 2127     Max: 4627
Speed (km/h)
Range (km)
Ceiling (m)
Rate/Climb (m/min)
blueprints


  Derivatives & Versions of Seasprite


ModelYearHistory
YHU2K-1

1958
1958 Kaman proposed the Model K-20 to fulfill the light utility role for the US Navy in 1957 and won! The Kaman design featured four blades on the ma ...
UH-2A

1959
1959 Kaman built 84 Model K-20 HU2K-1 (UH-2A) Seasprite light utility helicopters for the US Navy from 1958-1960, before production switched to the im ...
UH-2B

1960
1960 Kaman built 102 Model K-20 HU2K-1U (UH-2B) light utility helicopters for the US Navy from 1960-1962. Survivors were subsequently converted to UH- ...
UH-2C

1965
1965 Total of 41 UH-2A & UH-2B twin-engined upgrade conversions starting in 1965, with UH-2A 147981 serving as the prototype.
HH-2D

1968
1968
SH-2D

1970
1970
YSH-2E

1971
1971 Two Seasprites were converted to YSH-2E LAMPS II configuration. YSH-2E 149033 was one of two tested by HSL-31 in 1972 aboard USS Fox (DLG-33). T ...
SH-2F Seasprite

1973
1973 The SH-2F consists of an upgrade to existing UH-2C, HH-2D and SH-2D which includes a very low vibration rotor system, improved LN 66HP radar and ...
SH-2G

1985
1985

  List of Operators of Seasprite


Years Model Org
1958-    usa Kaman
1962/01 usa US Navy
1964/70 usa US Marine Corps
1997-    egypt Egyptian Navy
1997-    new zealand Royal New Zealand Navy
2002-    poland Marynarka Wojenna
2003/08 australia Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
2018-    peru Marina de Guerra del Peru



  Global Distribution of Seasprite



60SH-2F
17SH-2G
84UH-2A
102UH-2B
4YHU2K-1





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