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A US Navy programme, at present in the Concept Formulation stage, is aimed at developing a Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS), to utilise helicopters for a variety of missions while operating from, and extending the capabilities of, destroyers and escort vessels. The main tasks of such helicopters would be anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and cruise missile defence (CMD) but they could be deployed also for general utility operations.
Sealite has been proposed by Kaman to meet the Navy's LAMPS requirement and is intended for deployment on naval destroyers and escort vessels at present in service, which have helicopter deck loading limits of about 6,000 lb (2,720 kg). To overcome this weight limitation Kaman intend to utilise the dynamic system of the basic UH-2 helicopter, relying upon a small, lighter fuselage, new skid landing gear, two Pratt & Whitney (UACL) PT6(T400-CP-400) turboshaft engines and a three-blade folding rotor with a new rotor hub to keep the maximum gross weight down to 7,900 lb (3,583 kg).
For ASW missions, Sealite would carry one Mk 46 torpedo, MAD equipment, eight sono-buoys, data link, radar, avionics, data processing, missile defence provision and a crew of two. For CMD operation, equipment would be changed to one Sparrow missile, illuminator, electronic countermeasures, data link, radar, avionics, ASW provisions, sensors and a crew of two.
Flying Review International, May 1970
Sparrow armed helicopter? Interesting...
;D