The first of nearly a dozen S-92 helicopters configured for search-and-rescue service has been delivered by Sikorsky Aircraft to Bristow Helicopters Ltd.

Bristow Helicopters is a British subsidiary of the Bristow Group of Texas and has been contracted by the British government to provide search-and-rescue operations throughout the country beginning in 2015.

Its fleet of 22 SAR helicopters will feature 11 Sikorsky S-92s specifically configured for the work.

"At Sikorsky, we stand behind our mission statement: 'We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere...every time,'" said Carey Bond, president, Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services. "Bristow has a long history of search and rescue, and we are proud to support their efforts in the United Kingdom to bring people home.

"Sikorsky would also like to thank the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Bristow as the operator for their choice of the S-92 helicopter for this very critical mission."

The S-92 is a twin-engine medium-lift helicopter with a maximum speed of 165 knots and a range of 539 nautical miles.

The helicopter delivered to Bristow Helicopters at Sikorsky's assembly plant at Coatesville, Penn.