Bahrain Police Aviation Command to receive nine H145 helicopters
December 12, 2024
While the Bahrain State Police was rebranded as the Public Security Forces (PSF) at the time of Bahrain’s independence from Britain in 1971, the Flying Wing of the Bahrain Public Security Force was renamed as Police Aviation in 2004. Whatever the name, the organisation is the principal Bahraini law enforcement arm of the Ministry of Interior, and is responsible for maintaining order and security in Bahrain.
Though it oversees the police departments of four of the governorates of Bahrain (Manama, Muharraq, Shamaliyah and Junubiyah), the Public Security Forces are more than a simple law enforcement agency. The PSF is also responsible for the Special Forces Department, the Special Protections Department, the Counter Terrorism Centre, the General Directorate of Guards, the Traffic Police, the Operations Department, and even the Coast Guard!
The Public Security Forces Flying Wing originally operated a pair of Westland Scouts (one of which was on show at the recent Bahrain International Air Show) as well as a pair of Hughes 269C helicopters. Subsequently, the Wing operated a pair of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, a single McCulloch J-2 autogyro and a small number of Hughes 369 or 500D scout helicopters. Two Bell 412 ad one Bell 412SP utility transport helicopters were delivered from 1982-90 , and a single Bell 427 was acquired in 2001.
Today, as Police Aviation Command, the force operates a single Bell 412, a single Bell 412SP and six Bell 412EPs, based at the Ministry of Interior helipad at Diwan Fort in Manama, which serves as the Public Security Forces.
The newly ordered H145s will replace all of the remaining Bell 412s, though no delivery date has been made public.
Olivier Michalon, EVP for Global Business at Airbus Helicopters said that: “We are very proud that the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain has chosen to become a new member of the H145 worldwide community. We are sure that the H145 will quickly become a valuable new asset for the Bahraini police. As a truly multi-role helicopter, the H145’s versatility makes it a key asset for public safety missions around the world and in the region. More than 60 H145s are already in service in the Middle East and demand for this type of helicopter continues to grow for a vast array of missions: emergency medical services, operations in the energy sector, law enforcement and utility missions.”
