Queensland Police Service (QPS) will expand its airborne law enforcement fleet to six Bell 429 helicopters through a second service provision contract. The latest agreement was confirmed at the Avalon Australian International Airshow.

The contract, delivered via Townsville-based Meridian Helicopters, will see three Bell 429s deployed over the next decade in north Queensland. They will mirror the operational profile of three identical aircraft already in service in the southeast, managed by Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) under the QPS Polair programme since 2022.

Equipped with cameras and night vision capabilities, the new aircraft will be used for aerial surveillance, pursuit support and search missions. The Bell 429 platform allows QPS officers to track vehicles, locate missing persons and assist in offender apprehension from the air.

Bell’s footprint in Australian airborne law enforcement continues to grow, with Victoria Police Air Wing also selecting the Bell 412EPX for its tactical operations. Three units will be supplied under a contract with StarFlight Victoria, further strengthening Bell’s presence in state policing fleets alongside the Bell 429s in Queensland.

More than 500 Bell 429s are currently in operation worldwide, with over 735,000 flight hours logged. Other users include law enforcement and public safety agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, Thailand and Sweden. The aircraft’s large cabin, dual FADEC engines and customisable law enforcement options make it a popular choice for multi-role missions.