Airbus Helicopters has received an order from Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) for three H135 helicopters, announced on March 12, 2026. This acquisition supports the NPA’s fleet modernization program and elevates its total Airbus fleet to 26 units.
The helicopters will operate with the Hokkaido, Shimane, and Miyagi Prefectural Police departments for multi-role missions including patrol, search and rescue, and tactical transport. This follows the delivery of an H135 to the Hiroshima Prefectural Police in late 2025, which now integrates with the department’s AS365 helicopter.
“We are honored by the National Police Agency’s continued trust in the H135,” stated Jean-Luc Alfonsi, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Japan. “The H135’s proven reliability and high performance make it the definitive platform for law enforcement.”
The light twin-engine H135 features Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite with a 4-axis autopilot and three large electronic displays. The cockpit supports night vision goggles and includes a First Limit Indicator for consolidated engine data. In Japan, operators access training at Airbus Helicopters Japan’s H135 full flight simulator center in Kobe.
Japan currently operates 98 H135s, 15 dedicated to law enforcement. Globally, the H135 family logs over 1,600 units in service and 8 million flight hours.