The UK Ministry of Defence has issued its first invitation to tender for a new fleet of search and rescue helicopters which are needed to meet military and coastguard requirements until potentially 2042. The private finance initiative deal has an estimated value of £3-5 billion ($6.1-10.3 billion), it says, but does not include funds for a previously proposed fleet of leased battlefield support helicopters.
Three bidders are contesting the SAR-H deal: the Lockheed Martin/VT Aerospace AirKnight and Serco-led UK Air Rescue consortia, and a team comprising CHC and Thales. AgustaWestland earlier this year withdrew from contention as a prime contractor, and is now offering aircraft to the bidding teams, facing competition from suppliers including EADS UK, which is promoting a range of Eurocopter products.
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The new SAR-H fleet will replace Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Westland Sea King helicopters (RAF example pictured above), plus AgustaWestland AW139s and Sikorsky S-92s (latter type pictured below) now in UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency use under an interim deal. Phased service introduction will commence in 2012, with the MoD expecting the selected bidder to deliver services for a period of between 20 and 30 years.
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Bidding teams received the ITT in mid-November, and have until 30 January 2008 to provide initial responses to the requirement. The chosen team will be required to deliver 24h SAR coverage around the UK a capability currently provided using aircraft located at 12 bases.
AgustaWestland has meanwhile received a potentially £800 million contract to provide integrated operational support services for the UK's almost 100 Sea Kings, including SAR examples. Teamed with Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems, Serco, Thales UK and VT, the company will be responsible for delivering spares and technical support services and "depth" maintenance activities under the availability-based deal, which could run until the type leaves service in 2017.
Source: Flight International
