Fleet Helicopter Support Unit Requirement

[Hood]

The MoD have issued a requirement for a medium-lift support helicopter for Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) and Navy Command (NC) under a Military Registered Civil Operated Aircraft (MRCOA) contract.

The requirements are mostly training and staff transport but there are some interesting possible additional requirements:
- land-based SAR for Maritime Counter Terrorism Force training with night capability.
- transport personnel and/or freight to the Queen Elizabeth Class and other UK-based RN ships, initial utilisation circa 100hrs/yr.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-...tV-DTCgsKxfgdcPn4IYbr8BFlCyqrdBnUA1b2z_gmzHhZ

 

[RavenOne]

The MoD have issued a requirement for a medium-lift support helicopter for Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) and Navy Command (NC) under a Military Registered Civil Operated Aircraft (MRCOA) contract.

The requirements are mostly training and staff transport but there are some interesting possible additional requirements:
- land-based SAR for Maritime Counter Terrorism Force training with night capability.
- transport personnel and/or freight to the Queen Elizabeth Class and other UK-based RN ships, initial utilisation circa 100hrs/yr.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-...tV-DTCgsKxfgdcPn4IYbr8BFlCyqrdBnUA1b2z_gmzHhZ

Old news since last year. Anyhow 3 decades ago, contract started by then Bond Helicopters with red x AS365N3, then went to Brititsh International and now with three blue AS365N3 under Bristow Group.

They primarily supported FOST or Flag Officer Support Training here’s my photos of one blue Dauphin at last years Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 at RAF Fairford



Anyhow the Leonardo AW139 is tipped to be replacement.

Cheers

 

[Hood]

Anyhow the Leonardo AW139 is tipped to be replacement.

That was my conclusion too as to the likely contender for this.