Lithuanian Air Force selects AS365 N3 Dauphin
The Lithuanian Air Force has ordered three AS365 N3 Dauphin helicopters from Eurocopter under a contract signed on 25 October at the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense in Vilnius. The aircraft, which will perform search and rescue operations, will be delivered in 2015.
In addition to search and rescue duties, the Lithuanian Air Force’s AS365 N3 Dauphins will be used for tasks such as observing the effects of drought and floods, tracking crop conditions and plant disease, as well as the monitoring of marine pollution and other environmental dangers.
The three new AS365 N3 rotorcraft will join the Eurocopter EC120, EC135 and EC145 helicopters currently used by the Lithuanian Border Guard for security and law enforcement duties.
Jacques Cardaillac, head of sales Northern Europe, Eurocopter, said: ‘Eurocopter will provide its full support to the settlement in Lithuania of this important new service, taking the AS365 N3’s already demonstrated mission capabilities in the most challenging operational conditions.’
Marijus Velika, National Defence Vice Minister, said at the signing ceremony: ‘The new helicopters will help to fulfil search and rescue missions and perform environmental monitoring and control which are of high importance for Lithuania. Therefore, by signing this contract today we assure that the Lithuanian armed forces will be able to help saving people's lives and promptly respond to various crises in the future.’
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