UK Helicopter Search and Rescue is provided by the MOD using Sea King helicopters from eight bases and through Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) service contracts at four bases.
For the future provision of the Search And Rescue Helicopters (SAR-H), the MOD and Department for Transport announced on 8 February 2011 that it will not proceed with the preferred bid or the current PFI procurement process for this Project. This follows notification by the Preferred Bidder, Soteria, that there were irregularities with its bid.
The Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence will now consider the potential procurement options to meet future requirements for search and rescue helicopters in the United Kingdom, including options to maintain continuity of search and rescue helicopter cover until new longer term arrangements can be put in place.
Page updated 18 July 2011