Shanghai will buy three helicopters to form its first-ever helicopter police team, which will serve the security of the World Expo in 2010.

The municipal public security bureau signed a contract with the Eurocopter for the purchase on Saturday, including two light-duty EC135s and one medium-sized EC155.

These helicopters are expected to be put into use in 2008. They will also be used in hunting criminal suspects, anti-terrorist operations, directing ground traffic, disaster-relief operations and dealing with other emergencies, said Wu Zhiming, head of the public security bureau.

Founded in 1992, Eurocopter, a 100 percent subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, is world's largest helicopter producer, accounting for more than 40 percent of the turbine helicopter fleet in service in Asia.

According to Eurocopter, an EC135 can accommodate one pilot and seven passengers and an EC155 for two pilots and 13 passengers.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)