The Department of Homeland Security has awarded American Eurocopter a contract to supply no fewer than 56 EC 120s to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. The value of the award, over the five-year term of the contract, is potentially $75 million.

The EC 120s, due to be assembled and customized at the company’s new manufacturing facility in Columbus, Miss., will serve as “law-enforcement-equipped single-engine light observation helicopters,” otherwise known as the “Light Sign Cutter” fleet.

The helicopters will provide low-level surveillance and security patrol of U.S. borders.