Se retrasa el sustituto del Seasprite de la Armada Australiana (RAN)

El plan de la Armada Australiana para reemplazar su flota de Kaman Sea Sprite ha sido paralizado por el gobierno, según Australian Daily Telegraph.
En 1997, se firmó con Kaman, la compra de 11 SH-2G(A) Seasprite, pero el modelo no cumple con todas las demandas exigidas por lo que la RAN ha solicitó al gobierno la rápida aprobación de la compra de 24 Sikorsky S-70 Sea Hawks. El gobierno insiste en la compra del NH90, 40 de los cuales se entregarán proximamente al ejército.

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Australian Seasprite replacement may take longer

A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) plan to quickly replace its cancelled fleet of Kaman Sea Sprite anti-submarine helicopters has been blocked by the government, which wants to see another competition to choose its successor, reports the Australian Daily Telegraph.
In 1997, the Australian government signed a A$667 million contract with Kaman to purchase eleven SH-2G(A) Super Sea Sprites, but the type’s inability to meet Australian airworthiness certification standards meant it never entered full operational service with the RAN, with the programme being cancelled on March 5, 2008.
The RAN wanted the government to approve a A$4 billion ‘rapid acquisition’ of 24 Sikorsky S-70 Sea Hawks, but this has been scuppered with the Australian cabinet insisting the NHIndustries NH90 should be considered – 40 are being delivered to the Australian Army for service entry by 2014 and the RAN is to have six to replace the maritime support Westland Sea Kings of 817 Squadron, based at Nowra in New South Wales.
The Australian government’s National Security Committee is expected to decide on a winner before the end of March, says the report.