Bulgarian border police have taken delivery of two additional AW109 Power light twins and an AW139 medium twin to provide air surveillance capability on the outer EU borders.

A border police official said: "Bulgaria is expected to be a Schengen Zone member shortly. This means it must have reliable border air surveillance. The AW109 Power is equipped with an impressive range of avionics and mission-dedicated equipment including a NVG-compatible cockpit, moving map display, weather radar, searchlight, external loudspeaker, HD FLIR, digital video downlink, video recorder, mission console and an integrated radio suite for tactical communications and airborne command and control functions."

The official added that the AW139 would provide a greatly enhanced aerial policing service as well as a comprehensive SAR capability over the sea and mountainous areas. "It features an advanced range of mission equipment including an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System and TCAS."

The new helicopters join an AW109 Power delivered in 2010 and enlarge the Bulgarian border police helicopter fleet to four.