The Bangladesh Navy will raise its first ever dedicated maritime search and rescue helicopter squadron to improve its response to humanitarian emergencies in its area of operations.
Sources within the Bangladesh Navy have informed the Defseca Team they will soon advertise a Request For Proposal (RFP) in relation to the purchase of 2+2 AW109E or AW139 maritime search and rescue configured helicopters within 10 days. Eventually the squadron will consist of 8 t o 12 maritime search and rescue helicopters, pilots, crew, rescue divers and ground support personnel.
At present the Bangladesh Air Force operates four AW139 in MSAR role along with one Agusta-Bell AB212 helicopter. The AW139s were introduced first in 2015 and another two were delivered in 2018.
The Bangladesh Air Force is also purchasing a dozen more AW139 helicopters in utility and transport role in view of completing its lone AW139 squadron. The Bangladesh Navy has also publicly revealed its plan to purchase MH-60R multi-mission helicopters from Sikorsky under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for primarily anti-submarine and anti-surface-warfare to be deployed aboard the indigenously built guided missile frigates.
