The EHI-101 was the "only helicopter available to fulfill our requirements in terms of flying, towing and lifting," the Maritime Self-Defence Force spokesman said.

The choice was made last week by the Defence Agency to replace the force's Sikorsky MH-53E and S61-A helicopters as craft used for transportating goods in minesweeping operations and Antarctic expeditions, he said.

The helicopter will be equipped with a RTM-322 engine, developed by Anglo-Franco joint venture Rolls Royce Turbomeca, which has been selected over the T-700 engine of US conglomerate General Electric, the spokesman said.

An official of Japan's Marubeni Aerospace Corp., which imports EHI-101 fuselages for the naval force, said that the first of the 14 helicopters to be delivered were priced at 5.4 billion yen (45 million dollars) each, including spare parts.

The 14 would be delivered over a period of 10 years, he added.

AgustaWestland, a joint venture between Agusta of Italy and the British company GKN, has supplied EHI-101 military utility medium lift helicopters to the British Royal Navy and air force, the Italian navy and the Canadian defence forces.

In July 2002, the company signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to jointly market and produce a version of the aircraft for the US market under the codename US-101.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has bought an EH1-101 with specifications for civilian use.

WAR.WIRE