Two S-61Ts Modified by Carson
The Argentine Navy officially received two Sea Kings from Carson Helicopters at the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base on 24 November. The helicopters will be used to enhance the operational and logistical capabilities of Argentina’s Antarctic Campaign, particularly in search and rescue and EEZ surveillance and control missions.
Modified to the S-61T Triton variant by Carson, and thus stripped of their sensors and armament, the aircraft will be operated by EAH2 – the Segunda Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicópteros – which already operates two AS-61D and four UH-3H. The modernisation included the provision of four Cobham NVG-compatible multifunction displays, a Ground Mission Planning Systems (GMPS), a digital communications management suite and a weather radar.
Structural enhancements include particle filters in the air intakes and fifteen ant-crash seats, capable of withstanding a 15G vertical impact. New composite main rotor blades enhance performance, reduce vibration and improve stability, fuel consumption and maintenance. The aircraft have capacity for stretchers to be installed for evacuation missions. The aircraft delivered to Argentina have retractable landing gear and folding main rotos – features not included in S-61Ts modified by Carson for other operators.
Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON
