16 Sea King HAR.3 were ordered in 1975 and introduced from 1978 to replace the Wessex HAR.2 as part of modernisation of the UK SAR commitment. 19 were eventually delivered. Improvements were subsequently sought and 6 Sea King HAR.3A (which retain the venerable ARI 5995/2 search radar) were delivered from 1995. They include an auto hover digital flight control system, combined with a glass cockpit. The HAR.3A was introduced into service in 1996 and replaced the last Wessex HAR.2 in Jun 1997. The handling characteristics of the HAR.3A are significantly different from the HAR.3 and only the winch operator can move between types without conversion.
RAF operations with the Sea King HAR3/3A fleet will come to an end in 2016
News |
Serco to maintain RAF Sea Kings
24-Apr-13 - Serco has been awarded a contract extension by AgustaWestland Ltd to assist them in maintaining the fleet of Sea King aircraft for the Ministry of Defence under their Integrated Operational Support Contract.Search and rescue fleet replacement
29-Nov-11 - Britain is to have a new fleet of faster and more modern search and rescue helicopters, the Government has announced. Units |
Years | Units | Base |
---|---|---|
2007/16 | 1564 Flt | RAF Mount Pleasant |
1996/14 | 203(R) Squadron | RAF Valley RAF Akrotiri Newquay / St Mawgan |
1994/15 | 22 Squadron | AAC Wattisham Newquay / St Mawgan RAF Coltishall RMB Chivenor RAF Valley |
1986/07 | 78 Squadron | RAF Benson RAF Mount Pleasant Port Stanley |
1983/86 | 1564 Flt | RAF Mount Pleasant |
1978/15 | 202 Squadron | RAF Leconfield closed 1977 Kent International / Manston closed 2014 Lee-on-Solent RAF Coltishall Brawdy RAF Coltishall RAF Boulmer RAF Lossiemouth RAF Leconfield closed 1977 Thorney Island closed 1976 |
1977/96 | SKTU | Newquay / St Mawgan RNAS Culdrose |