The present SAR helicopter contract included a technical specification document, however, the MCA said it is ‘agnostic’ about how the service will be delivered in the future.

In four years, the UK could have three different firms running its SAR operations using smaller helicopters than at present, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and high-altitude pseudo-satellites.

Negotiations with the UK Civil Aviation Authority will determine whether employment of UAV technology will be successful.

At present, SAR helicopter services are run by Bristow Helicopters a fleet of SAR Sikorsky S-92s and Leonardo Helicopters AW189s stationed at 10 bases around the UK.

During a presentation, the MCA stated: “The program will build on the data modelled from the current SAR program to inform a market-led, tailored solution ensuring the most appropriate assets at the most suitable locations nationwide to meet the MCA’s commitments.

“The purpose of presenting information in this manner is to encourage potentially different or innovative base / asset configurations that will still enable that dispatch reliability – whether that is co-location of assets at a few bases or whether that’s a single base with maintenance and training aircraft. We believe there is definitely another way to do it, but whether that’s correct or not is for the modelling to confirm or deny.”

The procurement process is due to start in the first quarter of 2021, with a contract award to take place 18 months later. A budget for the contract has yet to be finalized.