Super Seasprite May Still Fly

Australia's Super Seasprite may fly due to legal threats, few other options and a mounting distrust of Defence advice within the Australian government. Software integration problems have made the program six years late, and the multi-role SH-2G has yet to pass revised  airworthiness certification tests. Its price tag has gone from Australian $400 million to $1.1 billion. The manufacturer, Kaman Aerospace, is prepared to mount a legal challenge to the potential discontinuation of the contract, which calls for 11 Seasprites. Kaman maintains that it has complied with the initial requirements set out by the government but the government changed its airworthiness requirements and did not tell the company. Purchasing a new helicopter could cost $1.5 billion on top of the $1 billion already spent. Kaman says it can fix the issues with the flight control system and airworthiness for $60 million. Defense officials say it would cost more and that the Seasprite may not be in service before 2010. There are few options available should the Seasprite not fly. The Australian Defence Force's preferred helicopter, the NHIndustries NH90, would not be ready for delivery in the near future, leaving only the aging Sikorsky Sea Hawk. For related news