Kawasaki delivers two H145/BK117s to Japanese police
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has announced the delivery of two H145/BK117 D-3 helicopters to Japan’s National Police Agency
The aircraft are the third and fourth of that type to be operated by the law enforcement agency. They were ordered by the National Police Agency in April 2023.
The twin-engine helicopters will be used for a mix of operations, including patrol and surveillance, disaster response, and search and rescue.
The rotorcraft feature large rear clamshell doors usable for the loading and unloading of stretchers, as well as a five-bladed rotor system, offering reduced noise and vibration.
They can carry up to 10 people in standard configuration, and have a maximum speed of 263km/h, with a range of 723km.
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.