Your new post is loading...
A Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite maritime helicopter fitted with Penguin anti-ship missiles underwent a successful test flight on 22 May at Kaman Aerospace's facilities in Connecticut, USA, said the RNZN.
The Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 missiles are supplied by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence Systems under a contract announced in November 2013 to replace the RNZN's AGM-65D Maverick air-to-surface missiles.
The 385 kg Penguin can deliver a 120 kg semi-armour piercing warhead over a range of 34 km, combining inertial midcourse guidance with an infrared homing seeker. The anti-ship missiles are being procured by New Zealand together with ten SH-2G(I) maritime helicopters and a mission flight simulator at a cost of NZD242 million (USD206 million).
The RNZN is replacing its fleet of five ageing SH-2Gs that have been in service since the 1990s with the ten platforms, two of which are being purchased as spare airframes. The first three SH-2G(I)s are scheduled for delivery by late 2014 while the total fleet is scheduled to be in service by 2016.
The SH-2G(I) can carry eight fully armed troops and two crew members. The aircraft has a maximum range in excess of 500 n miles on an endurance of more than five hours. It has a maximum cruise speed of 120 kt.
The RNZN said on 23 May that the SH-2G(I)s will be based with the No. 6 Squadron at RNZAF Base Whenuapai in Auckland and indicated that it may also deploy the helicopters on board its Canterbury-class multirole vessel as well as its Otago-class offshore patrol vessels and ANZAC (Meko 200)-class missile frigates.
