Six New Bell 407 to Join Existing Fleet

The Colombian Police has ordered six new Bell 407-GXP helicopters, known locally as the HALCON, to be delivered over the next two years.

They will join an existing fleet of five 407s already in service for patrol missions over Colombia’s major cities. They will be equipped with a double sound amplifier that can be heard from altitudes of over 300m at a distance of up to 500m, playing pre-recorded messages or alert sounds. They will also have FLIR turrets featuring infrared sensors and a high-power light with a 70m range, to which filters can be added to allow better visibility for the pilots. The aircraft usually carry four police officers, including two pilots and can transmit their images in real time to police command, up to a distance of 16km.

Santiago Rivas and Florencia Lucero Heguy