Bell Helicopter sells 24 Model 407 helicopters destined for Iraqi air force

摘要

The U.S. Army awarded Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, a $60.3 million contract for 24 of its Model 407 helicopters, which the Army will provide to the Iraqi air force as part of a planned foreign military sale to Iraq. The Iraqi Ministry of Defensernselected the Bell Model 407 as the basis for a Iraqi air force armed scout helicopter. Initial aircraft deliveries to the U.S. Army are expected to begin later this year. The 24 Model 407 helicopters, built at Bell's facility in Mirabel, Canada, will be militarized by the U.S. Army to meet Iraqi air force requirements, Bell officials say. In February, the U.S. Armyrnpurchased three Model 407s from Bell that are being used as prototype aircraft for the development and testing of military-unique modifications. After the Army has finished qualification with the initial prototype aircraft, military-unique modifications will then be applied to these 24 production aircraft before they are delivered to the Iraqi air force.