A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) SH-2G(I) Seasprite fired a Penguin Mk2 Mod 7 missile for the first time last week.
New Zealand signed a contract with Kongsberg in 2013 to acquire an undisclosed number of Penguin Mk2 Mod 7 missiles in 2013. They replaced the RNZAF's AGM-65 Mavericks in the helicopter-borne anti-ship role.
The SH-2G(I) that fired the missile is attached to HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) which recently commenced a six-month deployment to the Middle East to participate in Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150).
"The helicopter’s primary role on this mission is forward-reaching identification and surveillance of suspicious vessels based on intel from CTF HQ in Bahrain," the RNZAF said in a statement.
"The helicopter will then provide force protection for Te Kaha’s boarding crews who are searching for illicit cargoes of narcotics and weapons being shipped by terrorist and criminal organisations."