Homeland Security

Swedish Police takes Delivery of its 8th EC 135

Marignane, 19 May 2003

Sweden is the latest addition to the growing number of countries to have chosen the EC 135 for its police services. On May 16th, the Rikspolisen took delivery of the last of a total of eight EC 135s at Eurocopter's Donauwörth facility. The helicopters will be based in Stockholm, Ostersund, Boden, Malmö and Gothenburg. With the Swedish Rikspolisen, Eurocopter has acquired another highly experienced police customer which has operated helicopters since 1964.

With the acceptance of its 8th EC 135, the Rikspolisen completes the renewal of its fleet which previously consisted of older-generation American models which are meanwhile outdated and being phased out.

The Rikspolisen utilizes its helicopters for a multitude of missions, including surveillance of the country's coastline and its island archipelago. In line with its high demands, the Swedish police has selected a comprehensive range of optionals for its EC 135s: Night-vision goggle compatible "Avionique nouvelle" glass cockpit, single-pilot IFR instrumentation, Infrared camera (FLIR), search light, cargo hook, external loudspeaker, emergency floats, rescue hoist, rappeling device for special missions as well as rescue litters.

Since its market introduction in 1996, the EC 135 has established itself as the most successful twin-engined police helicopter of the new generation worldwide. In Germany, the Federal Border Police (Bundesgrenzschutz) and numerous state (Länder) police squadrons are among its operators. Internationally, the EC 135 is in police services in Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, Kuwait, Chile, the United States and, as latest addition, Sweden. In total, more than 100 customers in 27 countries fly the EC 135. By the autumn of this year, Eurocopter will deliver the 300th EC 135 -- it is destined for Great Britan.

Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is a global aerospace and defence company, and is the world's second largest in terms of revenues, having achieved €29.9 billion in 2002. EADS maintains a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services.

For further information, please contact:
Jean Louis ESPES
Phone: + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 55
Fax: + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
F-13725 Marignane Cedex
France

Christina GOTZHEIN
Phone: + 49 (0) 89 6000 64 88
Fax: + 49 (0) 89 6000 44 37
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-81663 Munich
Germany

Chantal LINARES
Phone: + 33 (0)4 42 85 60 51
Fax: + 33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
F-13725 Marignane Cedex – France

Christoph MÜLLER
Phone: + 49 (0) 906 71 45 65
Fax: + 49 (0) 906 71 46 74
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-86607 Donauwörth
Germany