La Marina peruana pone en servicio nuevos Sea Kings

The Peruvian Naval Aviation Command pressed the first two of six ex-Spanish Navy SH-3G Sea Kings – which were acquired second-hand from the Spanish government for the symbolic price of €100 each – on November 29.

Peru’s two new SH-3G Sea Kings (HM-496 and HM-497) were pressed into service on November 29 but served with the Spanish Navy until June 2022. Another pair of SH-3Gs will enter Peruvian military service soon with the remaining two aircraft being used for spares. — Peru’s two new SH-3G Sea Kings (HM-496 and HM-497) were pressed into service on November 29 but served with the Spanish Navy until June 2022. Another pair of SH-3Gs will enter Peruvian military service soon, with the remaining two aircraft being used for spares. Peruvian Government

In a ceremony presided over by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte Zegarra, the two helicopters (HM-496 and HM-497) were received by Escuadrón Aeronaval No 22 (Naval Air Squadron No 22), which already operates three Agusta-built AS-61D Sea Kings for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) missions, as well as two UH-3H Sea Kings that were acquired second-hand from the US. The unit is stationed at Base Aeronaval del Callao (Naval Air Base del Callao) in Lima, and usually deploys to Base Aeronaval de San Juan de Marcona in Peru’s Ica region.

The helicopters were purchased from Spain in October 2022 and arrived in Peru in August 2023. Work to ready these aircraft for Peruvian military service was carried out between August and November 2023. Peru is now working to press a further two ex-Spanish Navy SH-3Gs into operational service, with the remaining two airframes set to be used as a source of spare parts.