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 |
Leonardo Offers AW159 for New Zealand MHR Programme
03-Apr-24 - Leonardo and the New Zealand industry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer the AW159 Wildcat to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for the maritime helicopter replacement (MHR) programme, aiming to replace the Seasprites by around 2028 #NewZealandKaman 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.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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