Taiwan's military set to commission new additions to rescue squadron
ROC Central News Agency
2012/07/04 15:22:52
Taipei, July 4 (CNA) Taiwan's Air Force will formally commission three search-and-rescue helicopters purchased from Europe to beef up its disaster response capabilities at a ceremony July 10, the military said recently.
The advanced EC-225 Super Puma helicopters, which Eurocopter delivered to Taiwan's military last November, will be the first Europe-made choppers to be incorporated into the Air Force's rescue squadron.
Several government officials are expected to attend the ceremony in Taipei, including President Ma Ying-jeou.
Taiwan's main combat aircraft -- F-16A/B jet fighters, Mirage 2000s and IDFs -- will also fly over the ceremony site to mark the occasion, the military said.
The Air Force's rescue squadron currently consists of S-70C choppers from United States-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Compared with S-70Cs that use a four-blade rotor, the all-weather EC-225 helicopters have five-blade main rotors that can reduce vibration levels and increase capacity to up to 24 passengers.
The three EC-225 choppers, which cost US$110 million, are also equipped with de-icing systems, life rafts, automatic flight control systems and other advanced devices.
The EC-225 was first developed by Eurocopter in 1998. The helicopters are 19.5 meters long, have a maximum take-off weight of 11.2 tons and a range of 857 kilometers. The S-70Cs have a take-off weight of 9 tons and a range of 550 kilometers.
(By Elaine Hou)
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