Aviation firm Eurocopter has installed night vision goggles on Botswana police helicopters, as part of a bid to boost the law enforcement arm’s crime-fighting missions.

Eurocopter says the upgrade has modified pilots’ instrument panels and the camera observers’ consoles to be Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compliant.

This means that the police crew is equipped with binocular NVGs specifically designed for helicopter nighttime operations.

“The helicopter has been equipped to enable pilots to fly law enforcement, crime prevention and civic missions at night using Night Vision Goggle equipment, which relies on sophisticated thermal imaging technology,” said Linden Birns public relations and spokesperson for Eurocopter, Southern Africa.

Adding to Birns’ comments, a joint communiqué from Eurocopter and Botswana Police Service (BPS) said the upgrade could give the force a 24/7 airborne law enforcement and civic response capability.

“The NVG system allows the pilot to navigate and fly nap-of-the-earth missions and to take-off, land or perform operations at night, which would otherwise be practically impossible and extremely dangerous,” reads the statement.

“This added night-mission capability will be a major benefit to us as we have a responsibility to provide airborne law enforcement over a very large area. It means that poachers and other criminals will no longer be able to hide from us at night,” said Botswana Police Air Support Unit’s commanding officer, Director Pilane Sebigi.

The newly-established Botswana Police Air Support unit acquired the first of three AS350B3 helicopters from Eurocopter in 2009.

According to BPS, the helicopters have logged over 4 000 flight hours making a considerable impact in both crime related operations and rescue missions, in addition to participating in civil interventions.

Eurocopter is also providing the Botswana Police Air Support Branch with NVG type training for six pilots.