A Japan Coast Guard H225 helicopter. The service has ordered three more airframes of the type. (Airbus Helicopters)
Japan's coastguard service has ordered three more Airbus H225 twin-engine helicopters.
This latest order brings the Japan Coast Guard's (JCG's) total H225 fleet to 18, including airframes that were acquired more than a decade ago, an Airbus spokesperson confirmed to Janes on 16 April.
Most recently, the JCG took delivery of three H225s in December 2023 and one in February 2024.
“The new helicopters will support territorial coastal activities, maritime law enforcement, as well as disaster relief missions in the country,” reads a statement issued by Airbus on 11 April to announce the latest JCG order.
“The Japan Coast Guard has been an active operator of the Super Puma family helicopters for three decades,” said Jean-Luc Alfonsi, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Japan, in the media statement.
“We believe the H225 is the perfect choice for JCG's critical missions for law enforcement, as well as coastal and island protection, given its versatility in all weather conditions,” Alfonsi added.
The H225 is an 11 tonne aircraft from Airbus' Super Puma family. The helicopter can accommodate up to 20 passengers and has a lift capacity of up to 5.5 tonnes. It has a top speed of 175 kt and a maximum range of 452 n miles on an endurance of 4.5 hours.
Airbus has also indicated in its statement that its H225s are now equipped with new avionics that reduce pilot workload.
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