Japan’s National Police Agency has ordered an H225 twin-engine heavy helicopter and four H135 twin-engine light helicopters from Airbus.
The five aircraft are part of a planned fleet modernization, Airbus Helicopters announced June 24. The organization already operates 12 H135s, H155s, and six AS365 Dauphin models. It also has a single H215 and two H225s on order.
The National Police Agency uses its aircraft for law enforcement, personnel and VIP transport and disaster relief missions. The agency buys helicopters for the police forces of Japan’s numerous prefectures, purchasing aircraft from other manufacturers including Bell, Leonardo and Sikorsky. It is unclear to which prefectures the aircraft will be delivered.
“Airbus Helicopters treasures the opportunity to support Japan’s wide-ranging law enforcement missions for more than 30 years with our light-twin, medium and heavy-lift helicopters,” says Guillaume Leprince, managing director of Airbus Helicopters Japan. Airbus says there are now some 94 H135 helicopters operating in Japan, and 28 Super Puma-family aircraft operating with various agencies in the country conducting search and rescue, firefighting and heavy lifting.
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