Aircraft Slated For Use In Multiple Roles

The Turkish National Police have agreed to the purchase of 15 Bell 429 helicopters with deliveries to begin in May 2013. The Bell 429 was selected after an extensive evaluation period during which members of the Turkish National Police Undersecretariat for Defence Industries SSM and Turkish Aeronautical Industries (TAI) visited several large helicopter OEM's in North America and Europe. The new Bell 429s will be used as multi-mission airborne platforms flown across the full array of law enforcement missions from surveillance to air support of ground operations.

The contract was signed during a ceremony at the Turkish SSM Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. In attendance were the Undersecretary of Defense Industries for Turkey Mr. Murad Bayar, the Canadian Ambassador to Turkey, the Honorable John Holmes and members of the U.S. Embassy's Commercial Business Support office as well as dignitaries from the Turkish National Police and the TAI. "It is a measure of great satisfaction to see the right helicopter matched with the requirements of a great customer with the benefits to Turkey and the service that these helicopters will provide the men and women of Turkish law enforcement and the Turkish people," said Larry Roberts, senior vice president, Commercial Business for Bell Helicopter.
 
"We are very pleased to equip our police force with a next generation, high-mission capability helicopter. Bell Helicopter had a strong competitive performance during the tender stage and we believe this will continue during the execution of the contract," said Murad Bayar, the Undersecretary of Defense Industries for Turkey.
 
"The Turkish National Police represents an anchor program for us in Europe and will allow Bell Helicopter the opportunity to bring its world class customer support and service to such a critical mission in Turkey," said Roberts. (Bell 429 stock image)

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.com