Airbus and Draken Europe are bidding to run the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency’s Second Generation Search and Rescue service.
Search and Rescue in the UK had been run by the RAF and Royal Navy and for 70 years but was privatised in 2015 when the Bristow Group took over on a 10 year contract - later extended.
This extended contract will run through to December 31 2026 when the government will procure a successor service to both the UK Search and Rescue - Helicopters, and Aerial Surveillance and Verification contracts when they expire.
Airbus has announced they are bidding for the contract with Draken.
If successful they would deploy advanced helicopter, fixed wing and unmanned aircraft supported by a diverse array of integrated mission-critical technologies enabling the "delivery of a timely SAR response whenever and wherever it is needed".
Airbus Helicopters UK managing director, Colin James, said: “We have enormous respect for the long history, traditions and the dedicated workforce of the MCA’s current SAR operations.
"With Draken we are fully focused on this opportunity to deliver the next generation SAR service deploying our innovative technologies and practices, integrated with our proven high performance and advanced aircraft.”
Draken Europe CEO Paul Armstrong said: “The complementary skills of our well-matched companies with our combined vast expertise, innovation and decades of experience in building, operating and supporting SAR helicopters and special mission fixed wing aircraft will allow us to offer a compelling SAR2G proposal to the MCA.
"With Airbus we will deliver a service that offers resilience and value for money but most importantly a service that will always respond to distress whenever needed.”
Airbus and Draken said they present a UK-based partnership demonstrating an extensive track record in delivering critical Search and Rescue services around the world.
