- $15.8 million to bolster WA Police Force’s aerial response capability
- Funding to lease a Pilatus PC-24 jet aircraft and upgrade existing Pilatus PC-12 fleet
- New jet will be able to fly police from Perth to Kununurra around three hours faster
The Cook Government has committed $15.8 million in funding over the next four years for a new WA Police jet and to upgrade existing air assets.
The new Pilatus PC-24 jet will be the fastest aircraft in the history of the WA Police Force and be able to deploy officers anywhere in Western Australia to provide critical support in regional communities.
The twin engine jet will slash current travel time approximately in half and can land on unsealed airstrips in outback WA. It means specialist police from Perth such as Tactical Response Group Officers, detectives, forensic teams or Chaplains can be on the ground in Kununurra, for example, around three hours faster.
Currently a fully packed PC-12 aircraft would take up to 6 hours to reach the same destination and need to stop to refuel.
Time is critical when it comes to responding to emergencies and this investment will help bolster the WA Police Force’s ability to rapidly respond to incidents across regional WA such as natural disasters and criminal investigations.
The Pilatus PC-24 jet aircraft can carry a team of eight officers and be reconfigured to hold cargo including policing equipment, evidence and emergency supplies.
It is expected the Pilatus PC-24 will be delivered to the WA Police Force by early-mid 2026.
As stated by Police Minister Paul Papalia:
“The Pilatus PC-24 will be the fastest aircraft in the history of the WA Police Force and bolster the capabilities of the existing Police Air Wing fleet.
“Time is critical when it comes responding to emergencies and solving crime, and I want to arm our police force with the best tools on the global market to get the job done.
“WA is a vast State and remains the largest non-federal law enforcement jurisdiction in the world.
“The $15.8 million investment will help get more boots on the ground quicker when critical support is needed in regional WA.
“This is in addition to the uplift in regional policing through the rollout of satellite communications to 129 police stations and 550 police vehicles across regional and remote WA.”
Comments attributed to Deputy Police Commissioner Kylie Whiteley:
“The introduction of a jet aircraft into the Police Air Wing fleet represents a significant enhancement in aerial response capability which will greatly benefit the community.
“As the State’s population continues to grow, including in regional and remote parts of the State, the range of incidents being responded to are expected to become more diverse and require more specialist support from Perth-based units.
“This enhanced capability means we can send more officers to where they are needed – faster, safer and with the right equipment to do their job of keeping the community safe.”
