Mississippi will be manufacturing seven Light Enforcement Helicopters for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. This announcement comes after $45.9 million has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the Airbus plant in Columbus.
“Customs and Border Protection will use these helicopters for law enforcement missions to secure our borders,” said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith who serves on the Senate Appropriations committee. “I’m pleased Mississippi’s capable workforce will be providing the Department of Homeland Security with the tools they need to protect the American people.”
The helicopters are funded through FY2017 and FY2018 appropriations and will replace existing aircraft that have been removed from service. The contract entails designing, building, installing, testing, and certifying the aircraft for use by the Customs Border Protection.
