Spain has authorised the sale of six Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopters to Peru for the token amount of €600 ($596).
Madrid says the sale of the decommissioned rotorcraft, which are in a poor state of readiness, will not impact Spanish naval operations as refurbished Sikorsky SH-60F helicopters will shortly be introduced.
Any worth remaining in the SH-3Hs is countered by the “obsolescence of the material, its high repair cost, transport costs, limited marketing opportunities and, consequently, its low market value”, says the Spanish government.
In addition, the “symbolic” sale price will help to strengthen the relationship with the Peruvian navy, it says.
Cirium fleets data shows the SH-3Hs are all over 40 years old, with the most elderly a 1967-built example.
