Date: 13 Apr 2004
Time: 16:17
The German Border Police (Bundesgrenzschutz or BGS) has signed a contract with Eurocopter, and the Norwegian CHC division Astec Helicopter Services as a co-contractor, for the purchase of ten used AS 332L Super Puma transport helicopters and their upgrade/retrofit to L1 standard. The aircraft have been acquired from the European offshore market and will be upgraded according to latest technical standards for two different mission requirements for the BGS between 2004 and 2007.
Four of the helicopters are scheduled for coast guard and maritime patrol missions, the other six are for extended onshore police and transport requirements. Retrofit and upgrade equipment includes full de-icing equipment for flights in icing conditions; night-vision goggle-compatible; digital multi-function displays; tactical multi-frequency radio sets; reinforcement provisions for gyro-stabilised daylight reinforcement and thermal imaging camera capability.
Also included is weather radar; four-axis autopilot on the marine version; three-axis autopilot on the police/transport version; GPS navigation computer AeroNav2 with digital moving map (DKG3 or 4); search lights; fast-roping device for special forces engagements; rescue hoists for SAR missions and an emergency floatation system for maritime missions. The BGS will phase out eleven of its present 22 SA 330 Puma helicopters and sell them in the world market.
These helicopters were built in 1974 and after, have accumulated between 4,500 and 5,500 flight hours. The procurement of the ten upgraded AS 332L1 Super Pumas, which offer more cabin space and more performance, is part of the BGS' fleet modernisation programme which commenced in 1997. T
he programme aims at meeting increased Homeland Security requirements, and a broader mission spectrum for the BGS in view of the enlargement of the European Union towards the East, higher specialisation of police missions as well as more disaster relief and humanitarian aid missions abroad.