STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 17 (UPI)
The Swedish Maritime Administration has chosen AgustaWestland to supply it with seven new search-and-rescue helicopters.
The helicopter to be supplied is the AW139, a twin-engine aircraft with a maximum speed of 193 miles per hour, a range of 573 miles and a ceiling of 20,000 feet.
"The AW139 is a well-tested rescue helicopter optimal for Swedish conditions and is certified according to international standards," the organization said.
The monetary value of the contract was not disclosed.
The AW139s come in five variants and are in operation if 40 countries. Those acquired by the Swedish Maritime Administration will gradually replace the organizations existing platforms in 2013 and 2014.
"It is very satisfying that in the future we will have an improved capacity and ability to save lives without increasing the total cost of operations," says Noomi Eriksson, deputy director general and head of the Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Department at the Swedish Maritime Administration.
/fdata%2F4220908%2Favatar-blog-1207340840-tmpphpbvDubc.jpeg){kind=avatar}
