£3bn bids for search and rescue services
Two teams are set to submit £3 billion-plus bids to run the search and rescue operations of both the RAF and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Financial bids go in later this month for the Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) private finance initiative which will combine support functions and equipment for the UK and Falkland Islands.
VT Group, formerly Vosper Thornycroft, has joined up with Lockheed Martin and British International Helicopters.
It has proposed using Eurocopter’s EC 225 platform. The rival team includes defence group Thales, helicopter firm CHC and Royal Bank of Scotland.
SAR-H is being run jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. A winner will be selected later this year.
The contract will start in 2012 for a period of up to 30 years.