The Sea King Team’s role is to support their Capability and Front Line Command customers. The Team’s aim is to provide airworthy Sea King aircraft, fit for purpose, to time and budget as agreed with Joint Helicopter, Navy and Air Commands.
The MOD Team, which comprises Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and civilian personnel, is located in Yeovil where they work alongside their Industry partners to manage the availability of the Sea King fleet through the SKIOS (Sea King Integrated Operational Support) contract. The MOD team also provides support and capability enhancements through a number of other contracts with various suppliers.
The current out of service date for all marks of Sea King is 2016. The Team is actively planning for the drawdown and ultimate disposal at the end of the Sea King’s service life.
The Sea King fleet has multiple roles and is based in locations across the UK and in the Falkland Islands.
Sea King Mk 3/3a - Operated from RAF stations in the UK and the Falkland Islands, the Sea King Mk3/3a aircraft provide 24 hour search and rescue cover, over land and sea, throughout the year, maintaining a 15 minute readiness state during daylight hour and a 45 minute readiness state during darkness.
Sea King Mk4 - The Sea King Mk4 is an all weather, day/night amphibious and battlefield medium support helicopter. It is cleared for operations from nearly all HM and many foreign warships. The Mk 4 has undergone a comprehensive upgrade programme to improve performance in hot and high conditions and it continues to support operations in Afghanistan and on other deployments.
Sea King Mk5 - Operated by the Royal Navy the Sea King Mk5 provides search and rescue cover to large sections of the United Kingdom coastline 24 hrs a day and 365 days per year typically at 15 minutes notice. Based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and Prestwick in Scotland Royal Navy helicopters are constantly available and fly missions that are as varied as they are far-reaching.
Sea King Mk7 - The Sea King Mk2 was rapidly brought into service post the Falklands conflict when it became clear that organic Airborne Early Warning was an essential part of air power at sea. The Mk 2 was further developed with a total mission system upgrade which saw the aircraft re-designated as the Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance and Area Control. The Mk7 provides tactical control to fighter aircraft, can detect low flying aircraft trying to attack surface ships and provide an over land surveillance capability, allowing the Sea King to provide a significant contribution to Operations in Afghanistan.
Page updated 18 July 2011