Crab said:
"So that leaves aircraft which don't have the range/capacity to match the Sea King. So much for 'no lesser capability'!"
Last time I looked the RAF Sea King needs to loose around 600 lbs of role equipment to allow you to put full fuel in it and get the 252 milse ROA claimed.
With the Aux tanks fitted as standard to the S92 you can fly a ROA of 252 nm with a genuine 30 mins on scene without removing any role equipment; ie no strip lists and no delay in take off to strip out seats rad shack and so on.
Sea King or S92
you pick!!!