Ibaraki Prefecture Orders Kawasaki BK117C-2 Firefighting Helicopter

Tokyo, October 28, 2009 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that the Ibaraki Prefectural Government has signed a deal for its latest BK117C-2 helicopter. It is the sixth C-2 model to be used for firefighting in Japan. The new helicopter will be deployed by the Ibaraki Air Rescue unit after its scheduled delivery at the end of September 2010.

The Kawasaki BK117 helicopter was developed jointly between Kawasaki and European helicopter manufacturer, Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB), now Eurocopter Deutschland (ECD). The BK117 is a medium-sized twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter that’s used for broadcasting, transporting cargo and passengers, fighting fires, as well as for police and emergency medical services. Designed for superior safety and operability, the BK117 has a compact body and large double doors in its rear for transporting long objects such as stretchers. Since its market debut in 1983, the BK117 has undergone continuous improvements, making it the best selling model in the world. Kawasaki’s outstanding technological knowhow and proven track record have resulted in orders for more than 630 helicopters from around the world, including orders received by Kawasaki for 153 helicopters as of September 30, 2009 and those received by ECD.

The C-2 has the following major upgrades in addition to the great features of its predecessors.

1. Enhanced flight performance and transport capability with 30% more cabin room, a 7% increase in maximum gross weight and a 30% wider flying range over its predecessors.
2. A new main rotor blade design that significantly reduces noise and vibration.
3. An advanced cockpit design for optimal visibility and an integrated flight instrument system with simpler flight displays to reduce the pilot’s workload.

Kawasaki continues to maintain its competitive edge with proven superior technological capabilities and outstanding customer services as it actively markets its BK117C-2 helicopters.