A state's police force will be able to get direct, vehicular access to passenger planes for the first time with a multimillion-dollar boost to an armoured car fleet.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Monday unveiled five Lenco "BearCat" vehicles - valued at $3.5 million - that would be "strategically positioned" across the state to support tactical police and negotiators.
"These are state-of-the-art vehicles with the most up-to-date technology that police need in their operational capability," she told reporters while standing alongside Police Commissioner Karen Webb.
BearCats are already used by police in high-risk situations such as raids and sieges, but authorities say the new model will also bolster the ability of officers to respond to aircraft emergencies.
In an Australian first, one of the new vehicles, to be stationed in Sydney, has been equipped with an extendable ramp to give officers "over wing" access to aircraft, as well as into multi-storey buildings.
The bullet- and blast-resistant vehicles are also designed to transport hostages or those injured in emergency incidents.
"This will take us forward for at least 20 years," Ms Webb said.
"We're the first in Australia to have this new technology on top of these vehicles, and this will be a game changer for our tactical officers."
The BearCats will replace NSW Police's current fleet of three armoured vehicles, which have been in service since 2001. They will be decommissioned.
The heavy-duty vehicles, each weighing nine tonnes, are involved in around 350 incidents annually, police said.
NSW's north, south and west will each get a BearCat amid ongoing concerns about crime in the state's regions.
"These are vehicles that the police can use on our streets right throughout NSW, there will be one located (in Sydney) and the others will be in regional areas," Ms Catley said.
