The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible $82.5 million Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of 5 Armed Bell 407GX helicopters, the U.S. Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced in a 5 October statement.
According to the statement, the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of five Armed Bell 407GX helicopters configured with M240 7.62mm Machine Guns.
Also noted that the possible contract will include 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, five ARES Weapon Management Systems, five Mission Configurable Armament Systems (MCAS), night vision compatible lighting systems, aircraft intercommunications systems (ICS), cockpit and seat armor 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 program support.
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.