SAR - Utlandets informasjon til leserne

 

AgustaWestland and Eurocopter to
fight for Norway SAR deal

By:   DOMINIC PERRY LONDON 

Source: 

 

Norway's NAWSARH contest, to replace its ageing fleet of
Westland Sea King search and rescue (SAR) helicopters with as
many as 22 New rotorcraft, has moved a step closer to resolution
with two bidders - AgustaWestland and Eurocopter - invited to
engage in further negotiations.

AgustaWestland has pitched its AW101 and Eurocopter the EC225
for the requirement for 16 helicopters, with options for an
additional six.

The two shortlisted manufacturers had faced competition from the
NH Industries NH90 - in which AgustaWestland and Eurocopter
are the majority partners - and Sikorsky's S-92.

Oslo already has 14 of the NH90 NFH naval variant on order for
its air force
and navy, and the type had been considered a favourite for the
NAWSARH deal on grounds of commonality. However, well-
publicised problems with the initial examples delivered to Norway
may have harmed its progress.

The new helicopters will be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air

Force, although the acquisition is being led by the nation's Ministry
of Justice. The latter says it hopes to conclude the deal by the end
of 2013, with the final Sea King to be phased out by the end of
2020.

Flightglobal's Ascend Online Fleets database lists 12 SAR-roled
Sea Kings as being in the Royal Norwegian Air Force's inventory.
The oldest of these entered use in 1972, it says.