Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced today it has delivered the first seven of 15 Bell 429s to the Turkish National Police on or ahead of schedule. The aircraft will be used for a wide array of law enforcement missions, including surveillance, personnel transport and air support of ground operations.

“With the most advanced technology available in the industry, the Bell 429 enables our police force to serve and protect our country more safely and efficiently,” said Murad Bayar, Undersecretary for Defence Industries in the Republic of Turkey.

“We'd also like to thank the team at Bell's Piney Flats facility as they went above and beyond to make sure we received the best support and service possible throughout these deliveries,” Bayar added.

The first seven of 15 Bell 429s ordered by the Turkish National Police last year were accepted between September and October 2013, with remaining deliveries expected to occur on or ahead of schedule through next year.

The National Police began operating the aircraft as soon as they were delivered, flying surveillance and transport missions nearly every day and night. Each aircraft is equipped with multi-sensor cameras, the latest microwave downlink technology and a state-of-the-art video management system that allows the flow of information between air and ground operations.

“Our collaboration with the Turkish National Police is a prime example of providing a highly customizable helicopter to meet our customers' critical mission needs. The Bell 429 met the Turkish National Police's requirements for a multi-mission platform with exceptional speed, power and performance, even at peak altitudes,” said Danny Maldonado, Bell Helicopter's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

During a two-year evaluation period, members of the Turkish National Police Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, SSM and Turkish Aeronautical Industries (TAI) visited several large helicopter OEMs in North America and Europe. The Bell 429 was selected for its superior performance, low operating costs and ease of maintenance. In addition, Bell Helicopter's industry-leading customer support and service was a key factor in the selection.

The Bell 429 is one of the most advanced light twin helicopters ever developed. It delivers exceptional speed, range and hover performance, and offers operators a state-of-the-art single and dual pilot IFR helicopter with top user-rated in-service support. A fully-integrated glass cockpit with two or three multi-function displays, dual digital autopilot and an integrated electronic data recorder help increase situation awareness and safety margins. Other safety features include a collective mounted throttle, damage tolerant hub and rotor system, and energy attenuating seats.