The Croatian Police yesterday took delivery of the second of two AW139 helicopters, after receiving the first in January 2016.   The two aircraft will have their primary role as border protection.  Croatia has the EU’s second longest land border with non-EU countries, a total of 745 miles, making it only marginally shorter than the 816 mile border between Finland and Russia.  This role has enabled Croatia to benefit from an extensive assistance package from the EU to help fund the aircraft.

The AW139 is fitted with a Trakkabeam A800 searchlight to port, an EO/IR turret under the nose and a winch to starboard – the border role extends to its marine borders and thus an SAR role. Both have the new higher 7,000kg gross weight.

Arriving on the Italian test registration I-EASM, this second helicopter will become 9A-HPH in due course.  It is serial 31730 from the Leonardo production line in Italy.  The Croatian Police also operates three JetRangers, one AB212 and a pair of EC135P2

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com

Photos with this report are of the first AW139, and the second is fitted out exactly the same.  Photos are © Copyright 2016 Boran Pivcic, who blogs at Achtung, Skyhawk!

© Copyright 2016 Boran Pivcic