Argentina Inducts First Bell 407 GXi Helicopter, to Acquire Five More

The Argentinian Ministry of Defense (MoD) inducted the first Bell 407 GXi helicopter for its air force, of the six it signed up to buy from Bell Helicopters.

“Today we are incorporating the Bell 407, selected thanks to an arduous search and investigation of the material suitable for the needs of our Armed Forces. This is the first BELL, next year we will have two more for the Army and in 2025 we will have two more for the Air Force,” said defense minister Jorge Taiana at the induction ceremony on October 25.

The head of the Argentinian Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac said, “This is just the first aircraft of the six that are scheduled to arrive.”

Separately, Bell announced on October 31 the purchase agreement for six Bell 407GXi helicopters.

The government-to-government contract was executed between the Ministry of Defense of Argentina and the Canadian Commercial Corporation. The Bell 407GXi helicopters will be operated by the Argentinean Air Force and Army to assist in Search and Rescue Missions.

Bell managing director, Latin America, John Ramos said, “407GXi will be pivotal to Argentina’s Military Search and Rescue operations. All six Bell 407GXis will be outfitted in a utility configuration critical to rescue missions in Argentina’s mountainous terrain.”