The battle to provide the UK's next fleet of Ministry of Defence- and Maritime and Coastguard Agency-operated search and rescue helicopters has intensified, with AgustaWestland joining one of the three consortia bidding for the estimated £3-5 billion ($5.9-9.8 billion) deal.
Already comprising Bristow Helicopters, FB Heliservices and Serco, the UK Air Rescue team will be boosted by the airframer's addition, due to its status as the MoD's strategic partner in the rotorcraft sector. Bid director Allan Blake says AgustaWestland's inclusion is "a chance for us to enhance the strength of our bid", but insists: "All aircraft options are open" for the 20- to 30-year SAR-H requirement.
Both parties have declined to detail the size of AgustaWestland's stake in the UK Air Rescue team, but confirm that it will remain free to also offer its aircraft to the programme's two rival bidders. These are the Lockheed Martin/VT Aerospace AirKnight consortium, and a team comprising CHC and Thales.
Due to enter service from 2012 under a private finance initiative deal, the SAR-H fleet will replace Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Westland Sea Kings and AW139s and Sikorsky S-92s leased from CHC under an interim deal with the MCA. The MoD issued its first invitation to tender for the new project last November, and expects to receive initial responses by 30 January.
Source: Flight International
