Mach Two,
What on earth are you talking about? SAR a military task? Look at what they do day in day out, that is NOT a military task!
The Sea King force is not a CSAR force, it has never been deployed as such in its history. On the most recent case of the RAF/RN requiring a CSAR capability, off and over Libya, CSAR was provided by two USAF HH-60's deployed from Lakenheath to HMS Ocean.
This is a good economic decision, enabling the RAF to disband three more squadrons (22,202 and 203) shut down SARTU and do away with a complete fleet support and maintenance cost.
Retaining three squadrons, a dedicated training organisation and an entire aircraft inventory just because once or twice a year it MIGHT pick up an ejected pilot was a huge waste of scare resources.
Perhaps now the RAF can afford a dedicated and appropriately equipped CSAR squadron, or are they still going to have to give away all suitable a/c for that task to the CHF?