Australian Seasprite Cancellation Poses Dilemma for Sikorsky     

The new Australian government's cancellation of the SH-2G Super Seasprite program poses a dilemma for Sikorsky Aircraft. The Australian $1 billion program was to give Royal Australian Navy 11 refurbished Kaman Aerospace SH-2Gs for the ship-defense/maritime surveillance mission. Australian now is considering whether to upgrade its navy Seahawks or by new ones while it weighs adding to its order for NHIndustries NH90s. The dilemma for Sikorsky is whether it should pitch to Australia variants of the U.S. Navy's latest Seahwaks, the MH-60S/R, or its less pricey S-70 or International Black Hawk. Selling the -60 Sierra/Romeo through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program would help its U.S. Navy credits, which would get credits from the sale, but selling the International Black Hawk would help launch that program. For related news