UK Coastguard’s Search and Rescue Gets a High-Tech Overhaul
The race is on for the UK’s next-gen search and rescue aviation programme, UKSAR2G. Shortlisted bidders have been invited to tender to supply HM Coastguard with helicopters, planes, and drones packed with cutting-edge tech.
Who’s in the Running?
The competition is split into four lots, each targeting different aircraft types and mission profiles:
- Lot 1: Rotary-wing, short endurance, standard capacity for quick rescue ops. Bidders: Bristow Helicopters Ltd, EEA Helicopters Operations B.V, Serco Limited.
- Lot 2: Rotary-wing, high endurance with bigger capacity for long-range or multiple casualty rescues. Bidders: Bristow Helicopters Ltd, EEA Helicopters Operations B.V, Serco Limited.
- Lot 3: Fixed-wing, manned and possibly unmanned, for rapid search, surveillance, and pollution detection. Bidders: 2Excel Aviation Ltd, EEA Helicopters Operations B.V, Elbit Systems UK Ltd, Serco Limited.
- Lot 4: An all-in-one combined package covering Lots 1-3 from one supplier or consortium, aiming for cost savings in a single bid. Bidders: Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd, Bristow Helicopters Ltd, EEA Helicopters Operations B.V, Serco Limited.
Countdown to Contract
Submissions are due by the end of August 2022. After negotiations, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) plans to award the contract in late summer, with the new service going live from 2024. The deal will run for at least a decade.
Green Tech and Government Muscle
Our extensive data has shaped tools allowing bidders to include cutting-edge, greener technology, ensuring HM Coastguard meets complex future demands,” said Damien Oliver, Senior Responsible Owner for UKSAR2G.
“This pan-Government effort recognises that over half of Coastguard aviation demand comes from other public bodies. UKSAR2G will back policing, health services, and law enforcement like never before.”
“The scale of this collaboration is unprecedented in Government procurement.”
“It’s an exciting programme that will keep the public safe with state-of-the-art aviation technology.”
Saving Taxpayers’ Bucks
The UKSAR2G deal is expected to cost less than the current Coastguard’s search and surveillance operations. Bidders must balance cutting-edge capability with affordability for the taxpayer.
