PARIS, June 21 (UPI) -- Japan's Coast Guard is to receive 11 Sikorsky Aircraft S-76D helicopters for search-and-rescue missions.
The aircraft to be supplied to the Coast Guard were ordered in contracts from the Mitsubishi Corp. that were finalized earlier this year and announced at the Paris Air Show.
"The Japan Coast Guard has a long history with the S-76 model in the SAR role," said Christophe Nurit, Sikorsky's vice president of Sales, Asia. "We are honored that JCG has chosen our most advanced S-76D helicopter variant for this critical life-saving mission."
The cumulative value of the contracts was not disclosed. Sikorsky, however, said the first aircraft is expected to be operational with the Japan Coast Guard next year.
The S-76Ds for Japan will feature composite rotor blades, a fully integrated THALES glass cockpit; health and usage monitoring system, active vibration control, and PW210S engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, Sikorsky said.
The aircraft has a maximum speed of 178 mph and a range of 473 miles.
