Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced that Elbit Systems, Ltd. has ordered six new helicopters that will be placed into service with the Israel Police. The order is for four Airbus Helicopters H125 AStars and two H145s to support Elbit’s contract to supply helicopters for the Israel Police. The new aircraft will replace Israel Police’s aging fleet of single-engine helicopters.
Israel Police is the civilian police force for Israel and conducts law enforcement, counter-terrorism, border security, search and rescue, and planning in the future to support firefighting missions throughout the country. In its requirements for replacing the current fleet of single-engine aircraft, the Israel Police specified advanced aircraft and avionics systems to have the most modern and capable replacement fleet available. Requirements included glass panel cockpit displays, engine FADEC, and modern safety features. The Airbus Helicopters aircraft will be equipped with numerous options, including thermal imagers, searchlights, moving map systems, and cargo swings for firefighting.
The Israel Police have contracted with Elbit Systems to provide financing of the six aircraft, along with full maintenance and spare parts support, to ensure high levels of availability for their demanding mission requirements. Airbus Helicopters Inc. will provide the helicopters, helicopter completion services, flight and maintenance training, and spare parts support throughout the contract term with Elbit. Delivery of the new helicopters to Elbit will begin by the end of 2016.
“Airbus Helicopters Inc. is excited to have won this contract to replace the Israel Police helicopter fleet,” said Sebastien Delmaire, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. “The delivery of these aircraft will mark the introduction of the H125 and H145 to Israel. The H125s will be the first built for a foreign customer on the Airbus Helicopters Inc. final assembly line in Columbus, Miss.”
“Airbus Helicopters Inc. looks forward to working with Elbit Systems and the Israel Police on this project, and for many years to come,” said Ed Van Winkle, Sales Manager for Airborne Law Enforcement. “In addition to providing the highest performing aircraft, Airbus Helicopters has strong expertise and a solid reputation worldwide for supporting law enforcement agencies and their missions. The H125 is the Airborne Law Enforcement market leader in the United States while the H145 is among the leading models in Europe.”
The H125 is the latest version of the AStar family, which has become the most popular single-engine helicopter in the law enforcement community. The AStar is a high performance and highly reliable helicopter with multi-mission flexibility, and the H125 brings next-generation performance to the family. The aircraft is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2D engine that delivers a higher cruise speed and is equipped with a dual-channel FADEC and Engine Data Recorder, which enhance safety and systems management.
The H145 is the next-generation version of the proven BK117 family. The H145 is equipped with new dual channel FADEC engines and an upgraded main gearbox, providing an unprecedented level of one-engine inoperative (OEI) performance, along with superior hover and hot and high performance. The H145’s new Helionix® cockpit displays reduce pilot workload and enhance situational awareness, which increase safety margins during challenging missions. The Fenestron® tail rotor system ensures safety on the ground and lower noise levels in-flight. The large cabin provides flexibility for surveillance missions, tactical team deployments, and search & rescue operations.
