$82.5 Million Deal to Replace Attrition Losses
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed Congress on 3 October of the potential sale of five Bell 407GX armed helicopters to Iraq. The additional platforms will help compensate for the combat loss of seven IA407 helicopters in recent years and increase the Iraqi Security Forces’ combat effectiveness against ISIS and other terrorist elements in Iraq.
The $82.5 million foreign military sale will include five Armed Bell 407GX helicopters configured with five M240 7.62mm machine guns; five RF-7850A secure communications radios; five AN/AAR-60 missile launch detection system (MILDS) automatic plume detectors; five AN/ALE-47 airborne countermeasure dispensing systems; five M3P .50 calibre machine guns; five M260 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rocket launchers; five MX-15Di electro-optical/infrared sensors; five GAU-19 .50 calibre machine guns; five PATHFINDER mission management systems; five ARES weapon management systems; five Mission Configurable Armament Systems (MCAS); night vision-compatible lighting systems, aircraft intercommunications systems, cockpit and seat armour kits; and bifurcated exhaust infrared suppressor systems, operating manuals, spare parts, maintenance and operator training for radio systems, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and programme support.
The principal contractors will be Bell, Fort Worth, TX; L3 WESCAM, Burlington, Ontario, Canada; Dillon, Scottsdale, AZ; Tekfusion Global, Williamsburg, VA; Harris, Melbourne, FL; and Fulcrum Concepts, Mattaponi, VA.
