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Japan National Police orders five new helicopters

Japan’s National Police Agency (JNPA) has ordered one new H225 and four H135 helicopters as part of its fleet modernization program. Currently operating 12 H135, four H155 and six AS365 helicopters, with one H215 and two H225 already on order, JNPA deploys its fleet for missions like law enforcement, personnel and VIP transport, goods transportation and disaster relief, as well as wide area support.

Japan Coast Guard orders two additional H225 helicopters

The five new helicopters will used to complement the agency’s law enforcement capabilities. The new order will take JNPA’s Airbus fleet to 30.

“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,” said Guillaume Leprince, managing director of Airbus Helicopters Japan. “We thank [JNPA] for its continued trust built over the years, and welcome the agency as a new customer for our Super Puma helicopters.”

Airbus notes, that in Japan, H135 operators benefit from the training support offered by the aircraft manufacturer’s Kobe-based H135 full flight simulator centre. There are currently 94 H135 helicopters operating in Japan. Globally, Airbus has delivered more than 1,375 H135s to about 300 customers, clocking in over 5.4 million flight hours.

An 11-ton-category twin-turbine rotorcraft, the H225 is the latest member of Airbus Helicopters’ Super Puma family that has accumulated more than 5.7 million flight hours in all-weather conditions around the world.

The H225 can be fitted with various equipment to suit a variety of roles. In Japan alone, a total of 28 helicopters from the Super Puma family are currently flown by civil, parapublic operators, and Japan’s Ministry of Defense for various search and rescue missions, VIP, fire-fighting, and heavy-lifting.