LA County buys helicopter from EU for $43 million, including cost of tariff

Los Angeles County Supervisors approved the purchase Tuesday, Aug. 4, of a Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk, a specially-equipped helicopter for battling wildfires, at a cost of $43.1 million. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, in a letter to the board, said includes the add-on cost of a 15% tariff that is expected to be imposed on the high-tech aircraft.

Why a tariff? Because the 15% fee is applied on all goods imported into the United States from the European Union, according to a deal made by the Trump Administration with the EU in July 2025. The trade pact also includes investments by the EU in American energy and military equipment — a deal made under the threat of escalating tariffs, according to a report from the World Economic Forum.

The precise cost of the tariff could not be specified, Marrone wrote, until the final payment is made. So the final cost to taxpayers may be adjusted later, according to the motion. The L.A. County Fire Department did not respond to requests for comment.

“The recommended actions will enhance the district’s helicopter fleet to meet the ever-increasing emergency response challenges associated with protecting lives and property in today’s wildfire environment …” read the letter.

The firefighting helicopter will need a mission equipment system and other add-ons to bring the aerial-firefighting machine into service at a later date. The cost of those extras is $6.6 million, he wrote.

This model is similar to other Sikorsky helicopters that have been used by the fire department for the past 25 years to battle blazes by air.

One of those, the S-70A Firehawk helicopter “has proven to be the best multi-mission aircraft on the market,” Marrone wrote. The two original S-70A copters  were acquired by the fire department in 2000  and a third in 2004. Their combined use have exceeded 19,000 operational hours, he wrote.

This purchase comes a few weeks after the Board approved for five more years the rental of the world famous Super Scoopers water-dropping airplanes and their pilots for about $41.25 million in a multi-year contract.