Kaman SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite

The Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite was a United States (US) designed and built helicopter used for anti-submarine/anti-surface threats and over-the-horizon targeting. Its secondary missions included aero-medical evacuation, search and rescue, personnel and cargo transfer, small boat interdiction, amphibious assault air support, naval gun fire spotting, mine detection and battle damage assessment. It was originally operated by the US Navy in the 1980s as an upgraded version of the older Kaman SH-2 Seasprite.

 Left: Super Sea Sprite departing Sydney Harbour. Right: Kaman SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite flying over the south coast of New South Wales (Courtesy of the ABC).

In January 1997 the then Minster for Defence announced that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) would procure 11 Kaman SH-2G(A)  Super Seasprites for use on board the Anzac class frigate and potentially for the new offshore patrol vessel. The offshore patrol vessel project was to be a joint Australia/Malaysia activity but Malaysia eventually withdrew from the project in 1997 and soon after the offshore patrol vessel project was cancelled.  It was believed that Project SEA 1411 -  the acquisition of the Super Seasprite would also be cancelled. This was not to be and the first of the upgraded Seasprites arrived in Australia during 2001.

Re-commissioned at Nowra on 28 February 2001, 805 Squadron took possession of the new helicopter. Crewing of the aircraft was seen as an issue and the normal three person crew of pilot, observer/tactical coordinator and sensor operator was reduced to just two with the last two roles combined and the pilot given additional tasks.

The Seasprite acquisition and introduction into service was plagued with engineering, personnel and political problems.  In 2002 the then Chief of Navy refused to endorse provisional acceptance of the aircraft but this was overturned by the Minister for Defence and eight of the Seasprites were provisionally accepted in an interim training helicopter configuration. Limited training flights commenced in November 2003 with First of Class Flight Trials, on board Anzac class frigates, commencing in May 2004. 

By late 2004 the Seasprite had been granted an Australian Military Type Certification but this was withdrawn in May 2006 due to concerns with the helicopters' automatic flight control system. The Seasprites were grounded. Debate continued within Navy, the Defence Material Organisation and with the Minister for Defence regarding concerns with the airframe and the future of the project. On 25 May 2007, much to the surprise of many, the government announced that the Seasprite Project was to continue.

On 5 March 2008, following a change of government, the project was cancelled. The 805 Squadron was subsequently decommissioned on 26 June 2008 and the 11 Seasprite aircraft were retained by Kaman who later sold eight of them to the New Zealand Defence Force.