The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has selected Airbus to supply seven H135 helicopters in the initial phase of its fleet renewal programme.
This is the first order from a new framework contract with the BlueLight Commercial procurement agency, under which Airbus will be the sole supplier of helicopters to NPAS for the next six years.
NPAS is a borderless air service available to all police forces across the UK. It is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year resource for tackling crime and keeping communities safe.
It currently has a mixed fleet of 16 H135 and H145 Helicopters along with four fixed wing aircraft operating from 17 bases around the UK.
NPAS Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager Chief Superintendent Vicki White said: “With over 100 calls for air support each day, the National Police Air Service plays a unique and valuable role in saving lives, disrupting criminality and protecting communities. The aircraft we currently operate were transferred to NPAS from individual police forces when the national service was formed over 13 years ago and, as such, they are some of the oldest and most-flown aircraft of their type in any UK fleet.”
“We very much look forward to working with Airbus on this exciting project and anticipate receiving the first of our seven new aircraft in 2027,”
Richard Atack, Interim Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK added: “We are extremely proud to have been the sole provider of NPAS’ helicopters since its formation and we greatly appreciate the continued confidence it is showing by awarding Airbus Helicopters its first fleet renewal contract. It is a great honour for us to continue playing this critical role in the nation’s security,”
All the new aircraft will feature Arbus’ Helionix Avionics system and the first of the new aircraft will be used to train flight crews on the new systems.
