The Uganda Police Force Air Wing has completed the acceptance process for a GrandNew and a W-3A Sokol helicopter during an official ceremony that was attended by President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni and other high-ranking Ugandan state officials. The two helicopters were delivered as part of a contract signed between PZL-Swidnik, now part of the Finmeccanica helicopter division, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uganda in June 2014. The aircraft will be used to perform law enforcement missions. PZL-Swidnik will also deliver to the customer a comprehensive training and support package for the helicopters.
These deliveries mark the entry of the 100th Finmeccanica helicopter on to the African continent.
This fleet is being used to perform a wide range of missions including law enforcement, emergency medical services, corporate and executive transport, SAR, offshore transport and harbour pilot shuttle.
The W-3A Sokol has been equipped with a cargo hook, rescue hoist, search light, loudspeaker system, rappelling kit, FLIR camera, provisions for firefighting equipment and an emergency flotation system, while the GrandNew helicopter was chosen for its performance and technology, providing superior mission capabilities and safety in adverse operating conditions. It was delivered to the Uganda Police Force equipped with a cargo hook, search light and loudspeaker system.