Japan’s national police has taken delivery of the first production Subaru Bell 412EPX, three years after the upgraded medium-twin helicopter was announced. Bell and Subaru jointly developed the 412EPX as the platform for the new utility helicopter for the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) program. JMOD began testing the aircraft in 2019.
The 412EPX features a more robust main rotor gearbox with 30-minute run dry capability, an increased internal maximum gross weight of 12,200 pounds, and mast torque output of plus 11 percent at speeds below 60 knots. It has a maximum cruising speed of 122 knots and a maximum range of 357 nm. In addition, the 412EPX includes the BLR Fast Fin system, a pair of Pratt & Whitney PT6T-9 engines (rated at 825 shp each, max continuous), and the second generation of the Bell BasiX-Pro integrated avionics.
Bell has manufactured more than 1,100 of the 412-series helicopters since its introduction in 1981. Derived from the Vietnam War-era Huey, there are 11 different variants of the helicopter to date.
Bell and Subaru (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) have collaborated on helicopter programs since the 1960s, jointly manufacturing and supporting more than 400 helicopters in Japan, including the Bell UH-1H/204B-2, UH-1J/205B, and AH-1S to the JMOD. Subaru currently provides helicopter MRO support to Japan’s coast guard, national police, and firefighting and disaster relief agencies.