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.
The SH-2G Super Seasprite has improved twin GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.
Seasprite News |
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 #KamanFirst 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 IslandsKaman 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 CairoCommence 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
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 ... | |
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Specifications Seasprite |
Derivatives & Versions of Seasprite |
Model | Year | History |
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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 | |
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1958- | Kaman | ||
1962/01 | US Navy | ||
1964/70 | US Marine Corps | ||
1997- | Egyptian Navy | ||
1997- | Royal New Zealand Navy | ||
2002- | Marynarka Wojenna | ||
2003/08 | | ||
2018- | Marina de Guerra del Peru |
Global Distribution of Seasprite |
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