Shizuoka City in Japan has placed an order for an H145/BK117 D-3 helicopter (D-3), the newest model in the BK117 series, from Kawasaki Heavy Industries. This will be delivered in March 2026 and used as a firefighting and disaster relief helicopter. This order is the fourth D-3 to be used for these missions and the 27th order Kawasaki has received overall.

The D-3 has rear clam shell doors, a large cabin space with full flat floor and improved hovering performance at high altitudes. These features contribute to smooth emergency transportation and will be of great use in rescue operations in the high mountain areas that characterise Shizuoka City. In addition, the D-3 retains the features of the BK117 series with improved safety performance and reduced pilot load thanks to the latest avionics, and improved performance from the five-blade rotor system. Features include:

- Increase of useful load weight by approximately 150kg: MTOW has been increased by approximately 100kg and the total empty weight has been reduced by approximately 50kg, increasing the useful load by approximately 150kg.

- Reduction of maintenance period by approximately half: Fewer inspection items and intervals and a modern, easy-to-maintain main rotor system.