The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has welcomed confirmation from the UK Minister of State for Policing and Crime that funding has been approved for two additional brand-new police helicopters as part of a major fleet replacement programme.

The announcement represents a further investment in national police aviation and follows the seven new H135 helicopters already approved and currently under construction as part of NPAS's fleet renewal. Two aircraft have already arrived.

Together, these aircraft will modernise the NPAS fleet, replacing older helicopters and ensuring police forces across England and Wales continue to benefit from reliable, resilient and effective air support, 24 hours a day.

The two newly approved helicopters will be delivered through the existing procurement programme and delivered by Airbus Helicopters. This approach maximises efficiency while maintaining operational continuity.

Operational decisions on the expected base locations for the two additional aircraft are still subject to confirmation.

Chief Superintendent Fiona Gaffney, chief operating officer and accountable manager for NPAS, says: “This additional investment is very welcome news and demonstrates continued confidence in NPAS and the value it provides to policing and the public. It is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our people and our partners at BlueLight Commercial and Airbus Helicopters, who continue to deliver a complex fleet renewal programme on behalf of UK policing.”

NPAS will continue to work closely with its partners to meet project timelines, with the first new aircraft due to be available for operational deployment from mid-2027.

A disposal programme is running parallel to the fleet replacement project, identifying opportunities to dispose of nine of the older NPAS aircraft.