THE UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has published a request for information (Rfl) for the commercial provision of rotary wing search and rescue for maritime counter-terrorism training, in an apparent bid to lessen the workload of the Royal Navy Command Merlin HM Mk2 that is currently utilised for the role. In the Rfl published at the end of November 2021, it was stated that search and rescue (SAR) capability for maritime counter-terrorism training (MCT) exercises were conducted twice per year, in the spring (March/April) and autumn (October/November). As stated by the notice, the "finite availability" of military helicopters had led the MOD to consider alternatives to how airborne SAR could be provided for MCT training, including through the use of commercial helicopters. The focus of the Rfl was intended to "understand industry's ability to offer airborne SAR for the MCT training serials" commencing in Spring 2022.
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