San Diego adds four aircraft to police fleet

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Airbus Helicopters H125

Airbus Helicopters H125

The San Diego City Council has approved the purchase of four Airbus H125 helicopters for approximately $21 million to replace its ageing fleet.

The agreement approves the purchase of one helicopter immediately for $4.6 million, with the further three to be acquired for $5.5m apiece and delivered over a five-year period, ending in 2024 – according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

City officials will need to approve the other three transactions separately — based on whether the city has the capital available to acquire more helicopters.

Two years ago, the city also added a modified Black Hawk to its fire-rescue fleet to help fight wildfires.

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As of last year, Airbus says there are 810 H125, H135 and H145 helicopters in law enforcement roles across the US, making up nearly 60% of the entire country’s police fleet.

“We are able to continue to lead this market by producing highly capable and versatile aircraft and providing industry-leading support to our customers,” said Chris Emerson, President of Airbus Helicopters Inc. and head of the North America region. “We’re proud to build the cutting-edge H125 helicopter in Mississippi. It’s a prime example of how Airbus is expanding its presence and industrial footprint in the United States.”

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