Federal German Ministry of the Interior Selects Eurocopter EC 135 and Dauphin N4 Helicopters

Munich, 16.12.1997

Federal German Ministry of the Interior Selects Eurocopter EC 135 and Dauphin N4 Helicopters

The Procurement Office of Federal German Ministry of the Interior has decided to procure two Eurocopter models for the modernization of the helicopter fleet of the German Border Guard. The order is for 13 Light transport Helicopters (LTH) of the AS 365 Dauphin N4 type, to be delivered between 1998 and 2001 with the option for another two and for nine liaison and observation helicopters (VBH, i.e. Verbindungs- und Beobachtungshubschrauber) of the EC 135 type, to be delivered between 1999 and 2001 Total contract value is 220 million Deutschmarks.

The order follows a European-wide request for tender and a thorough practical evaluation of various helicopter models, including the Boeing MD900 and the Bell 412, by the Border Guard. The two Eurocopter models EC 135 and AS 365 Dauphin N4 were selected as winners of the competition.

Modernization of the Border Guard's helicopter fleet has become necessary in view of the age of the current models in the VBH role (a total of 32 SA 318c Alouette) and LTH role (a total of 13 bell UH-1D and eight Bell 212) combined with high maintenance and overhaul costs, as well as with respect to the introduction of the new JAR-OPS3 rules demanding higher safety standards coming into force in Europe on April 1, 1998.

The Border Guard's new LTH of the AS 365 dauphin N4 type, a 5-ton aircraft, will cover the entire mission spectrum between aerial observation (carried out with the VBH) and air transport (carried out with the LTH). Its roles include surveillance and reconnaissance along the land and sea borders of the country, search, detection and arrest missions, transport of special units, technical personnel and other special forces, disaster relief missions as well search and rescue missions. The LTH will further-more be used for the economical transport of security-relevant persons and state visitors of the Federal German government. The LTH will be IFR-equipped and have a high degree of all weather capability.

The new VBH of the EC 135 type will cover all missions related to directing and commanding special forces from the air and observation/reconnaissance roles related to police activities. The VBH will also be used for the economical transport of security-relevant persons. -It will be IFR-equipped and have a large degree of all-weather capability.

For Eurocopter, this decision by the Federal German Ministry of the Interior marks a further strengthening of its market position. The EC 135, being delivered to customers since mid-1996, has now won the fourth public competition in Germany against the Boeing MD900 : the German Army and two state police helicopter squadrons have already opted for the EC 135. For the AS 365 Dauphin N4, a high-performance, enlarged version of Eurocopter's successful Dauphin family, the German Border Guard is the first public-service customer, marking an important milestone in the program.

For further information, please contact :

Jean-Louis Espes (in France) Tel: (+33) (0)4 42 85 95 55 Fax: (+33) (0)4 42 85 95 64

Christina Gotzhein (in Germany) Tel: (+49 89) 6000 6488 Fax: (+49 89) 6000 4437