Crime & Safety
State Police to Get Six New Helicopters
Two helicopters are arriving Monday, with four more to be delivered this week.
Maryland State Police are set to accept delivery of six new helicopters at Martin State Airport this week, beginning Monday afternoon.
The AW139 helicopters are among 10 AgustaWestland helicopters MSP will get to replace its aging fleet of 11.
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All but one of its current fleet is at least 20 years old.
The rest will be delivered Tuesday and Wednesday, according to state police.
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AgustaWestland has a $121.7 million contract with the state to deliver the 10 helicopters, which are described as state-of-the art.
Training will begin immediately, though the helicopters will not be in use for medevac flights or other missions until late spring or early summer.
The new helicopters will allow state police aviation command "to continue its unique multiple mission capability of medevac, search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security," officials said in a news release.
The closest MSP Helicopter Section to College Park is Trooper 2, based out of Andrews Air Force Base.
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