Officials said the Iraqi Army Aviation Command has accepted delivery of
three attack helicopters from the U.S. government. They identified the
platforms as the Bell-407 armed helicopters, designed to fire air-to-ground
missiles.
On Dec. 11, a U.S. Air Force C-17 air transport delivered three Bell
T-407 training helicopters to Iraq's Camp Taji.
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Officials said the aircraft,
manufactured by Bell Helicopters and which completed flight tests, would be
employed to train Iraq Army pilots to fly the Bell-407, meant for delivery
over the next 18 months.
Iraq has ordered another 27 armed Bell-407s for the Army's 21st
Squadron, with
deliveries scheduled for 2011 and 2012. The helicopter has been described as
a modified Bell-407 with the ability to fire the U.S.-origin Hellfire
air-to-ground missile.
The Bell-407 has also been equipped with intelligence and data-link
capabilities. Officials said the Iraq Army has prepared two instructor
pilots to develop a cadre that would operate and maintain the helicopter
fleet.
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