Royal Australian Navy takes delivery of new Seahawk 'Romeo' helicopters

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken delivery of its next generation of helicopters, two Seahawk "Romeos" designed for fighting submarines and other combat vessels.
The Navy has bought 24 of the new Seahawks, which are modelled on the Black Hawk helicopters used by the Army.
The first two rolled off the production line of US manufacturer Lockheed Martin in December and the rest are expected by the end of next year.
Instead of bringing the first few back home straight away, the RAN has sent its crews to the US naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, for training.
The US Navy has been flying the aircraft for more than five years.
The Australian crews will head home to their base at HMAS Albatross in Nowra with more of the choppers later this year for deployment on ANZAC (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) class frigates.
The aircraft are significantly more advanced than the older Bravo Seahawks they will replace. The new model can use the Hellfire missile and modern sensors.
The helicopters will be carrying out an anti-submarine, surface warfare role for the RAN.
Prior to the acquisition of the Romeo helicopters, the RAN had significant problems finding new helicopters capable of carrying missiles.
A fleet of Seasprites purchased by the Federal Government in 1997 were years late in delivery and plagued with expensive problems.
The helicopter's cockpits were too small for some pilots, and a number of software faults meant they were not safe to fly at night or in low visibility.
As the estimated losses topped, the scrapped the program in 2008, deciding instead to buy the Romeos.
au.news.yahoo.com

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.