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The EC120 Confirms Its Supremacy: 55 EC120s for the US Border Patrol

Marignane, 05 October 2004

Eurocopter is proud to announce the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to choose the EC120 for the US Border Patrol. The 75 million dollar contract specifies the delivery of 55 aircraft and 5 options.

These helicopters will be customized at the brand new American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Mississippi.

The EC120 will offer the US Border Patrol a technologically advanced helicopter with all the appropriate mission equipment.

To mark this occasion, the Eurocopter President and CEO, Fabrice Brégier, declared: "This choice not only confirms - if confirmation was required - the quality of Eurocopter's products, but also the very positive relationship of trust between Eurocopter and the Department of Homeland Security."

The EC120 is a light observation helicopter, which is currently the most silent in its category. The EC120 will perform low altitude patrol and security missions to detect and apprehend people trying to illegally enter the United States.

This contract confirms the Department of Homeland Security's confidence in American Eurocopter, the Eurocopter subsidiary in the United States. In fact, the DHS already operates a fleet of 96 HH65 Dolphins for the US Coast Guards and 44 AS350 Astars for law enforcement, surveillance and public safety missions.

387 EC120 B Colibris have been ordered by 141 customers in 37 countries, and 380 machines are already in operation. The EC120 is the latest addition to the light, single-engine helicopter class.

Eurocopter is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS. EADS is an international aerospace, defense and related services company. In 2003, EADS turnover rose to 30.1 billion Euros and the Group employs approximately 109,000 people. The EADS group includes the aircraft manufacturer, Airbus; Eurocopter, the biggest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and the "joint venture" MBDA, the world's second biggest missile manufacturer. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium. EADS is also the main contractor for the Ariane launcher and is developing the A400M military transporter. Finally, EADS is the biggest industrial partner for Galileo, the European satellite navigation system.

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

Christina GOTZHEIN
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-81663 Munich - Allemagne
Tel.: + 49 (0) 89 60 00 64 88
Fax: + 49 (0) 89 60 00 44 37