The establishment of Police Scotland in 2013 marked a significant shift in the nation’s approach to law enforcement, bringing eight separate Scottish police forces together under a single, unified entity. As part of this historic amalgamation, the newly formed national organization inherited the Air Support Unit of the former Strathclyde Police.

Originally established in 1992, this unit was a pioneer in Scottish airborne law enforcement, standing as the only police force in the country to operate a police helicopter at the time. 

Today, that foundational unit has been seamlessly incorporated into Police Scotland’s wider operations, evolving to meet the demands of a modern, nationwide police service.

Helicopter and drones

Operating from its base at Clyde Heliport in the city of Glasgow, the unit now provides essential, crewed aerial support across Scotland using a single Airbus H135 T3 helicopter (with a reserve EC135). This airborne asset provides a crucial vantage point, allowing officers to effectively patrol and protect diverse landscapes, ranging from dense urban centers to remote rural locations.

The rotorcraft is fitted with a range of specialist equipment designed to support its missions, including a WESCAM MX-10 forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera, CarteNav AIMS Mission System Software, a TrakkaBeam searchlight, a microwave downlink capability to transmit live footage, Tracker UK detection equipment, digital SLR cameras, stabilized binoculars, infrared binoculars, and night vision goggles (NVG).

The unit also utilizes a mixed fleet of drones for uncrewed missions – including the DJI Mini 5, Matrice 30T, and Matrice 400T models – which are used as an additional air support response for both pre-planned operations and spontaneous incidents. This includes providing support to local police and specialist departments.

This situation, explained David Hodgson, Corporate Communications at Police Scotland, is largely stable, with “no immediate plans to acquire additional helicopters or expand the current drone fleet”.

He added that both crewed and uncrewed aircraft remain a vital part of the Air Support Unit’s response, and that while the unit’s strategy “includes a commitment to development and expansion of drone capability … at the present time crewed aircraft is essential for Police Scotland to provide sufficient air support”.

“Drone technology is continually developing,” Hodgson said, “and Police Scotland will continue to operate a blended model of helicopter and drone assets. In the near future we do not anticipate a shift in operations; however, as technology advances and operational demand changes, drones could undertake tasking previously performed by the helicopter.”

As technology advances and operational demand changes, drones could undertake tasking previously performed by the helicopter

Hodgson added that, likewise with onboard equipment, Police Scotland “continually monitors the ‎market for improvements in technology and capability, [but] our current role equipment ‎provides a sufficient capability”. ‎

Pilots, observers, and wide, rural areas

Police Scotland’s helicopter operations are delivered in partnership with aviation services provider Babcock International – an arrangement that has been in place since 2016 under the current contract, which is due for renewal in 2028.

Under the terms of the contract, Hodgson explained, “our helicopters are Babcock employees, [while] our air observers and drone operators are all experienced police officers”.

“We currently have 14 observers and 12 drone operators,” he added.

Hodgson noted that between Babcock’s pilots and Police Scotland’s air observers, the team has “years of experience [flying] in challenging circumstances and environments”, including being deployed to the kinds of remote rural locations that characterize parts of Scotland’s landscape.

The team has years of experience flying in challenging circumstances and environments

To support this particular challenge, the Air Support Unit has refueling agreements in place with various airports throughout Scotland to facilitate the challenge of operating over such a wide area, Hodgson said.

Despite this, he acknowledged that its helicopter and drone assets had some restrictions: “Both have their own weather limits – however, the helicopter can fly in the more adverse conditions. The drones are also limited to operating within visual line of sight of the operator, so anything over a vast area is more suited to the helicopter.”

Incident types

The Police Scotland Air Support Unit responds to a range of incidents and mission types, with Hodgson explaining that “demand is steady throughout the year. However, weather impacts our ability to fly more during the winter.”

Missions include supporting missing person searches, suspect person searches, vehicle pursuits, casualty evacuation, offering rapid transport, and assisting in major incidents and operations.

The unit’s helicopter and drone teams will typically coordinate with ground-based police and partner agencies using police airwave radios to coordinate its operations. The helicopter also features a VHF radio transceiver, allowing them to communicate with “coastguards, lifeboats, and other emergency service air assets, such as HM Coastguard helicopters and air ambulances,” Hodgson said.

What’s next

Looking to the future, the Police Scotland Air Support Unit intends to develop its capabilities at a cautious but consistent pace. The primary focus remains firmly on guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of the officers operating on the ground, as well as protecting the diverse communities they serve across Scotland. The overarching strategy for air support is deeply committed to the ongoing expansion and development of the unit, ensuring it continues to provide an efficient and reliable response for local policing needs.

While there are no major fleet expansions expected in the immediate future, Police Scotland aims to remain highly adaptable in its implementation of new aviation solutions and operational strategies. The unit has already successfully integrated uncrewed capability into its air support response, and is constantly evaluating new developments in technology that could further enhance its crucial services.

Our air support strategy is committed to expansion and development of the Air Support Unit to continue providing an efficient air support response to local policing and the communities we serve

“Our air support strategy is committed to expansion and development of the Air Support Unit to continue providing an efficient air support response to local policing and the communities we serve,” Hodgson concluded. “The Air Support Unit has developed the use of drone technology and implemented this capability into our localized air support response,” he said. “Police Scotland will continue to monitor technological advancements and how these developments could improve our Air Support Unit.”