The Beijing General Aviation Co has placed an order for two AgustaWestland AW189 super-medium twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Leonardo S.p.A., which will be delivered to the Beijing Police as the end user to strengthen its law enforcement, search and rescue and fire-fighting capabilities in the Chinese Capital’s metropolitan area. The first aircraft will be delivered in the first half of 2022, with the second one following in the first half of 2023.
The contract marks the entry of the AW189 type into the Chinese civil helicopter market adding the super-medium-class model to a range of other Leonardo helicopter types. Once delivered, Beijing Police’s AW189s will feature a range of mission equipment, including searchlight, rescue hoist, tactical radios, weather/search radar, cargo hook and firefighting equipment provision, among others. The two AW189s will join seven other Leonardo helicopters (three AW139s, three AW109 Powers, one AW109 GrandNew) to make Beijing Police the largest Police Aviation unit in China with a nine aircraft fleet.