Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has signed a contract agreement with Airbus for the purchase of nine H145 helicopters.
The helicopters will be operated by the Police Aviation Command for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom.
The H145 offers multiple seating arrangements for law enforcement operations including a two-pilot configuration with an operator workstation installed in the rear position and space for four passengers, along with versions tailored for transporting up to five police officers (plus console operator), nine SWAT team members or 10 troops.
The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg.
“We are very proud that the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain has chosen to become a new member of the H145 worldwide community,” Olivier Michalon, EVP for Global Business of Airbus Helicopters said in a statement.
Bahrain Ministry of Interior orders 9 Airbus H145 helicopters
— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) December 12, 2024
Read the press release: https://t.co/VhGmbdDLnM pic.twitter.com/7fuRbT1LIe
“We are sure that the H145 will quickly become a valuable new asset for the Bahraini police. As a truly multi-role helicopter, the H145’s versatility makes it a key asset for public safety missions around the world and in the region. More than 60 H145s are already in service in the Middle East and demand for this type of helicopter continues to grow for a vast array of missions: emergency medical services, operations in the energy sector, law enforcement and utility missions,” Michalon added.
In total, there are more than 1,700 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of eight million flight hours.
Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload.
According to Airbus, the H145’s particularly low acoustic footprint makes it the quietest helicopter in its class, while its CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst its competitors.