Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first AS355 NP Ecureuil to the Spanish Road Transport Authority (DGT) and the first EC135 to the country’s National Police Force under the contract signed in February of this year with the DGT.

The agreement covers the supply of a total of seven helicopters: four AS355 NP Ecureuils and three EC135s, with the latter model to be operated by the National Police Force. The deliveries commenced with these first two helicopters and will be completed in 2016.

The DGT has a fleet of 12 helicopters operating from its central headquarters in Madrid as well as from regional bases and used for surveillance, traffic regulation and highway patrols throughout Spanish territory (excluding Catalonia and the Basque Country). It also operates one of the largest fleets of the AS355 NP Ecureuil in the world.

Meanwhile, following its latest delivery the Police’s Aerial Services will now have a total of 14 EC135s, which are used for surveillance and other police missions. This reinforces the presence of this multi-purpose rotorcraft in Spain, where it has established itself as the helicopter of choice for the country’s security forces (including the Guardia Civil, National Police and National Road Transport Authority) and the Spanish Army Airmobile Force (FAMET), whether for advanced training missions or medical emergencies in Spain’s different autonomous regions.