Kaman Seasprite

Model

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.

Model News

Kaman Opens New Customer Service Center, 18-Jul-19 : #Kaman 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

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, 13-Jul-16 : FIA 2016 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, 12-Jul-16 : FIA 2016 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 ...

Specifications


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)

Derivatives & Versions

Model	Year	History
YHU2K-1	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	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	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	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
SH-2D	1970
YSH-2E	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	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