All of them follow a common pattern and are likely to expand elsewhere in the country, since decisions are being made to allocate up to five five new purchases to the ostensibly leading (and probably only) contender.<\/p>\n
Five and counting…<\/strong><\/h3>\nReleased in 05\/2023, request for proposals (RFP) #5240-78-LR23 called for the provision of a twin-engined, multi-purpose helicopter with a 2.9+ tonne take-off weight for the Talca Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial Talca)<\/em> in Maule Region.<\/p>\nTwo months later, RFP #5240-125-LR23 was released for the acquisition of a twin-engined, multi-purpose helicopter with a 3.7+ tonne take-off weight for the soon to be formed Arica Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial Arica)<\/em> in Arica and Parinacota Region.<\/p>\n![\"Maule](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/10\/img_9247_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C578&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Regional media sources revealed local discomfort with the lack of central government support, which has repeatedly prompted Maule authorities to fund police assets such as the Talca Police Air Unit hangar at Panguilemo airfield or the H135 helicopter allocated to Airbus last month (photo: Carlos Ay,\u00a0 01\/15\/2017).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nLate last month, Santiago governor, Claudio Orrego<\/strong>, and Carabineros General Director, Ricardo Y\u00e1\u00f1ez<\/strong>, announced an US $7.7 million investment project for the acquisition of armored personnel carriers, drones that also contemplates a multi-purpose helicopter for the services’s Police Air Wing<\/strong> (Prefectura Aeropolicial)<\/em> based in Tobalaba airfield.<\/p>\nIn mid 06\/2023, Tarapac\u00e1 governor, Jos\u00e9 Miguel Carvajal<\/strong>, announced that technical approval had been granted for the acquisition of a brand new helicopter destined to operate with the Iquique Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial Iquique)<\/em>.<\/p>\nLastly, and also in 06\/2023, Coquimbo Region councillors revealed that work was under way to formulate a project that will fund the acquisition of a brand new police helicopter for the La Serena Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial La Serena)<\/em>.<\/p>\nBetter call the cops?<\/strong><\/h3>\nThese acquisitions don’t come in a vacuum: According to a recent Seguridad Expo media release, Chile’s internal security outlook is gloomy: “In 2022, on average, two homicides, eight rapes, 35 car burglaries and 88 vehicle thefts were recorded per day”<\/em> while “robbery [increased] by 53%, thefts by 46%, homicides by 42%, rapes by 12%, and finally conflicts with injuries by 25%”<\/em>.<\/p>\nDifferent government bodies are running a frenzied race to propose legislation and action plans to curb ordinary crime, illegal immigration, rampaging drug trafficking and Mapuche<\/em> terrorism; sponsoring initiatives ranging from a new public security ministry to strengthened intelligence, a renewed criminal legal code, new arms control regulations, improved police training and revisited rules of engagement for security forces.<\/p>\n![\"Commando](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/10\/20171111-IMG_3853_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1\")
<\/a>New helicopter acquisitions on the pipeline will be employed for classic police duties, including fast rope deployment by special operations forces, as demonstrated by EC135P2+ “Carabinero Cero Tres” at a Vitacura air show (photo: Carlos Ay, 11\/11\/2017).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nWhile nationwide changes continue to be hotly debated in congress and mass media, the five regional governments above took a pragmatic approach and decided to funnel funding for the acquisition of multi-role helicopters to reinforce police units in their jurisdictions and had (or are in the process of having) their proposal approved by regional councils.<\/p>\n
Following a 2017 constitutional reform, regional governors and councillors started being designated by people’s vote, took up several of the responsibilities previously held by central government branches in Santiago and gained authority to manage their region’s budget.<\/p>\n
But, even though governors have control of regional resources and public service apparatus, they can’t delve into operational security matters because that’s territory where the central government’s Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior)<\/em> rules unchallenged, so the Carabineros<\/em> were requested to actively handle these helicopters acquisitions and operations.<\/p>\nFollowing approval from regional technical and political bodies, those regions ar making National Fund for Regional Development<\/strong> (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Regional)<\/em> resources available to the domestic security service for them to purchase the helicopters and incorporate them to their fleet.<\/p>\nIf every prospect above sees fruition, Carabineros<\/em> will increase its nominal rotary wing fleet by an estimated 42% and augment their police, surveillance, search and rescue and transport capabilities in many areas previously unattended.<\/p>\n![\"Fleet](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-10-14-Comparison.png?resize=1024%2C564&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Carabineros rotary-wing fleet comparison table, classifying them in weight, power and capacity ranges. Options from the three leading candidate manufacturers are listed to the right, with the incumbent types colored in “carabinero green”. Market values marked with an asterisk come from a consensus of independent sources, while the remainder come from Airbus’ three recent proposals. The venerable MBB Bo-105 is also listed because it is believed to be destined for retirement in the near future (table: Carlos Ay, based on different sources).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nBut, given that funding flows from separate jurisdictions and at different paces, the service has adopted an unsophisticated acquisition approach and is launching individual RFPs as resources are made available by regional authorities.<\/p>\n
The overall process is seemingly creating an “exclusivity bonanza” for Airbus Helicopters<\/strong>, which was the only proponent in the two RFPs listed above as well as in an earlier competition (see “Airbus set to win Chilean Carbineers training helicopter contract with no competition?”<\/span><\/a>) and proposed an US $8.26 million H135<\/strong> for Maule\u00a0and an US $11.59 million H145<\/strong> for Arica.<\/p>\nThe situation hasn’t escaped industry scrutiny and is generating reactions from competitors that are losing business opportunities that may result in up to US $50 million in sales for the next two years.<\/p>\n
Two months later, RFP #5240-125-LR23 was released for the acquisition of a twin-engined, multi-purpose helicopter with a 3.7+ tonne take-off weight for the soon to be formed Arica Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial Arica)<\/em> in Arica and Parinacota Region.<\/p>\n Late last month, Santiago governor, Claudio Orrego<\/strong>, and Carabineros General Director, Ricardo Y\u00e1\u00f1ez<\/strong>, announced an US $7.7 million investment project for the acquisition of armored personnel carriers, drones that also contemplates a multi-purpose helicopter for the services’s Police Air Wing<\/strong> (Prefectura Aeropolicial)<\/em> based in Tobalaba airfield.<\/p>\n In mid 06\/2023, Tarapac\u00e1 governor, Jos\u00e9 Miguel Carvajal<\/strong>, announced that technical approval had been granted for the acquisition of a brand new helicopter destined to operate with the Iquique Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial Iquique)<\/em>.<\/p>\n Lastly, and also in 06\/2023, Coquimbo Region councillors revealed that work was under way to formulate a project that will fund the acquisition of a brand new police helicopter for the La Serena Police Air Unit<\/strong> (Secci\u00f3n Aeropolicial La Serena)<\/em>.<\/p>\n These acquisitions don’t come in a vacuum: According to a recent Seguridad Expo media release, Chile’s internal security outlook is gloomy: “In 2022, on average, two homicides, eight rapes, 35 car burglaries and 88 vehicle thefts were recorded per day”<\/em> while “robbery [increased] by 53%, thefts by 46%, homicides by 42%, rapes by 12%, and finally conflicts with injuries by 25%”<\/em>.<\/p>\n Different government bodies are running a frenzied race to propose legislation and action plans to curb ordinary crime, illegal immigration, rampaging drug trafficking and Mapuche<\/em> terrorism; sponsoring initiatives ranging from a new public security ministry to strengthened intelligence, a renewed criminal legal code, new arms control regulations, improved police training and revisited rules of engagement for security forces.<\/p>\n While nationwide changes continue to be hotly debated in congress and mass media, the five regional governments above took a pragmatic approach and decided to funnel funding for the acquisition of multi-role helicopters to reinforce police units in their jurisdictions and had (or are in the process of having) their proposal approved by regional councils.<\/p>\n Following a 2017 constitutional reform, regional governors and councillors started being designated by people’s vote, took up several of the responsibilities previously held by central government branches in Santiago and gained authority to manage their region’s budget.<\/p>\n But, even though governors have control of regional resources and public service apparatus, they can’t delve into operational security matters because that’s territory where the central government’s Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior)<\/em> rules unchallenged, so the Carabineros<\/em> were requested to actively handle these helicopters acquisitions and operations.<\/p>\n Following approval from regional technical and political bodies, those regions ar making National Fund for Regional Development<\/strong> (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Regional)<\/em> resources available to the domestic security service for them to purchase the helicopters and incorporate them to their fleet.<\/p>\n If every prospect above sees fruition, Carabineros<\/em> will increase its nominal rotary wing fleet by an estimated 42% and augment their police, surveillance, search and rescue and transport capabilities in many areas previously unattended.<\/p>\n But, given that funding flows from separate jurisdictions and at different paces, the service has adopted an unsophisticated acquisition approach and is launching individual RFPs as resources are made available by regional authorities.<\/p>\n The overall process is seemingly creating an “exclusivity bonanza” for Airbus Helicopters<\/strong>, which was the only proponent in the two RFPs listed above as well as in an earlier competition (see “Airbus set to win Chilean Carbineers training helicopter contract with no competition?”<\/span><\/a>) and proposed an US $8.26 million H135<\/strong> for Maule\u00a0and an US $11.59 million H145<\/strong> for Arica.<\/p>\n The situation hasn’t escaped industry scrutiny and is generating reactions from competitors that are losing business opportunities that may result in up to US $50 million in sales for the next two years.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nBetter call the cops?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>
\n<\/a>
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![\"Unlikely](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3023\/10\/2020-11-21-Payet-Mickael_edited.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1\")
<\/a>