Six EC145 T2 rotorcraft have been ordered by Germany’s Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia Police Force), becoming the latest law enforcement customer for this enhanced member of Airbus Helicopters’ twin-engine EC145 family. Deliveries of these helicopters are planned in 2016-2017.

As one of the largest of Germany’s 12 state flying police forces, the Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen serves North Rhine-Westphalia – the country’s most populous state, which includes the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Essen.

“The EC145 T2 is well suited for the Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen’s broad range of missions, providing capabilities that come with the world’s most modern law enforcement helicopter,” explained Thomas Hein, Airbus Helicopters’ Vice President – Head of Western Europe. “We developed the EC145 T2 with police forces in mind, working closely with pilots and officers to meet their operational needs.”

The Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen is the second such German customer, joining the Landespolizei Baden Württemberg (Baden Württemberg Police Force), which launched the EC145 T2’s law enforcement version with an order for six helicopters announced last December.
The EC145 T2 is the latest member of Airbus Helicopters’ EC145 family, incorporating new Arriel 2E engines and the company’s Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, along with upgraded main and tail rotor gearboxes, as well as the innovative new digital avionics suite Helionix® with 4-axis autopilot.

In its law enforcement configuration, the EC145 T2 can be equipped with a modern mission management system that facilitates the multi-role capabilities in police missions. Its primary role for observation and surveillance is supported by forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and daylight cameras, controlled by an operator who also handles communications and data exchange with ground-based police resources.

The Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen currently has a fleet of EC155s and BK117s, both of which are to be succeeded by the EC145 T2. Police forces throughout the country will soon be operating all-Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft fleets.

Airbus Helicopters is the global market leader for the Law Enforcement market having made 50 percent of the deliveries in the last ten years. Main markets for Airbus Helicopters in this segment are Europe and North America, with a market share of 44 percent and 28 percent respectively. In Europe, the light-twin EC135 and EC145 families are the most successful helicopters in this segment, accumulating a fleet share of approximately 46 percent.