US Approves Sale of Five Armed Bell 407GX Helicopters to Iraq

The United States has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of five Armed Bell 407GX helicopters configured with rocket launchers, machine guns and countermeasures for an estimated cost of $82.5 million.

The Government of Iraq has requested to buy five Armed Bell 407GX helicopters configured with five M240 7.62mm Machine Guns. Also included are five RF-7850A Secure Communications Radios, five AN/AAR-60 MILDS Automatic Plume Detectors, five AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasure Dispensing Systems, five M3P .50 Caliber Machine Guns, five M260 Rocket Launchers (APKWS Configuration), five MX-15Di EO/IR Sensors, five GAU-19 .50 Caliber Machine Guns, five Pathfinder Mission Management Systems and five ARES Weapon Management Systems.

Also included are five Mission Configurable Armament Systems (MCAS), night vision compatible lighting systems, aircraft intercommunications systems, cockpit and seat armor kits, and bifurcated exhaust infrared suppressor systems. The total estimated program cost is $82.5 million.

The addition of five Bell 407GX helicopters 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 407GX variant – an upgrade from the current IA407 configuration – includes Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) launchers.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 3, 2018.