Once the Royal Air Force’s 14 new-build Chinook HC6 aircraft comes online, the service will transfer its Merlin helicopters to the Navy.
It will also stop providing search and rescue helicopter services by 2016 with the retirement of the Sea King helicopter. A private contractor will take over the task.
[thumb]http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-review-confirms-sar-helicopter-transition-merlin-shift-373005/[/thumb]