Japan’s National Police Agency receives two H160s
Airbus has confirmed the delivery of two H160 helicopters to the police force, the first para-public operator to fly the aircraft in Japan
The National Police Agency (NPA) received the first H160 at the end of 2024, with the second arriving in January.
The Airbus H160 has a cruise speed of 255 km/h, with a maximum range of 890km, and a maximum endurance of 4hrs 30mins with standard fuel tanks. It can carry two pilots and up to 12 passengers in normal configuration, and has a useful load of up to 2,000kg.
The H160 is capable of flying a wide range of missions, including law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical services (EMS).
The delivery comes three years after the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) granted type certification to the multi-role, twin-engine helicopter, paving the way for it to enter use in the country.
“We are very proud of the delivery of the first public service version of the H160 to our long-standing customer in Japan,” said Jean-Luc Alfonsi, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Japan. “This is the culmination of two years of outstanding work and dedication of the teams in France and Japan. The unique capabilities of these brand-new aircraft will contribute to expanding the envelope of the NPA’s wide-ranging law enforcement missions.”
Memorial Hermann Life Flight, an air medical provider in the US state of Texas, ordered an H160 in July.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.