I was miffed when the Seasprite turned up on the Oz defence inventory. The Kiwi's have enjoyed the operational service of a more basic version of the platform for a good few years now, whilst the Oz Seasprite project is still a festering mess (lets hope the NH90 doesn't go the same way!).
The latest from Flight International article sums it up!
"Australia is studying the option of selling its 11 Kaman SH-2(G)A Super Seasprite naval helicopters for spares as Canberra prepares to decide on the future of the troubled project, writes Peter La Franchi.
Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) chief executive Steve Gumley told Senate hearings on 14 February that the returns from selling the aircraft for spares "would be small we are not talking A$500 million [$390 million]". The cost of the programme so far has been A$894 million.
The DMO had planned to spend another A$64 million on the project this year, but has cut this to about A$9 million. Defence budget documents released as part of the Senate hearings reveal that the cut is due to "technical issues encountered during the year, primarily associated with software integration and the automatic flight-control system".
The documents also say that "test flying of a limited number of aircraft will continue in Australia through 2007-8 to resolve the safety issue with the flight-control system and ultimately certify the full-capability configuration".
The Australian government ordered a review of the project cancellation option last year, with Eurocopter and Sikorsky asked to submit proposals for replacement aircraft.
Nine Super Seasprites have been certificated by the Royal Australian Navy, which plans to operate the aircraft from its Anzac-class frigates.
DMO director of naval aviation systems Cdre Mark Campbell told the Senate that on current schedules the lead helicopter would not reach operational capability until 2009-10 and only if the government approves additional funding."
Well done to our fine tuned project teams......
