Subaru has received a contract to supply two additional 412 EPX utility helicopters for the Japan Coast Guard (JCG).
Co-produced by Bell Textron, the 412 EPX is a next-generation aircraft based on the Bell 412 airframe specialized for the Japanese market.
The platform will be used for maritime security, search and rescue operations, disaster response, and corresponding logistics efforts.
The latest order brings the JCG’s EPX fleet to six aircraft, building on the initial contract revealed in 2022.
Subaru wrote in an earlier press release that the helicopters will be delivered to the service by 2025.
Currently, the JCG operates over 40 of the 412 system and its older version, the 212.
“The transition to the SUBARU BELL 412EPX was a logical next step due to shared design commonalities,” Bell said in the latest contract announcement.
“With an extended hover ceiling, increased payload capacity, robust main rotor gearbox and dry run capability, the SUBARU BELL 412EPX delivers superior operational performance and efficiency while maintaining its long-standing reputation for reliability.”
“Moreover, the SUBARU BELL 412EPX features state-of-the-art integrated avionics with large and intuitive displays that greatly reduce a pilot’s workload.”
The Subaru-Bell 412 EPX
The 412 EPX has an overall length of 17.13 meters (56.2 feet) and can carry up to 15 personnel.
It has a cargo hook capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) and a maximum gross weight of 5,897 kilograms (13,000 pounds).
The helicopter is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6T-9 engine for speeds up to 140 knots (259 kilometers/161 miles per hour), a range of 361 nautical miles (415 miles/669 kilometers), and flight endurance of up to 3.8 hours.
The vehicle’s cockpit system is equipped with Bell’s proprietary BasiX-Pro glass system, which includes four large-screen high-definition displays and Garmin GTN Xi touchscreen flight monitors for simulation, digital maps, and navigation.
