US Army Buys Three ARH's for Iraq
Thread Starter
US Army Buys Three ARH's for Iraq
You cannot make this stuff up......only the Federal Guvmint can spend money like this!
February 20,2009
The US Army bought three Bell Helicopter 407 helicopters yesterday for $7 million.
It was only five months ago that the army terminated a $6 billion contract to buy 522 Bell 407s modified into ARH-70s. Ironically, the deal was terminated largely because the cost of buying a single ARH had ballooned to about $14 million each, or twice the amount for all three aircraft purchased yesterday!
Of course, there are a few differences. The army is buying the three 407s on behalf of the Iraqi Air Force. The three airframes will be modified to carry weapons and serve as armed scout helicopters. If the modifications prove successful, the army will buy at least 24 more helicopters for the Iraqis.
Oh, the irony. If this works out -- and judging from past performance that's a big "if" -- the US Army could be more successful at buying combat aircraft for other militaries than for itself!
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...plus 140 M1 Abrams, 400 Strykers, 36 AT-6B Texan IIs, 20 T-6As, 565 120mm mortars, 665 81mm mortars and $150M worth of M4/M16/M203s. We'll probably also end up paying for the KAI T-50s that Baghdad reportedly wants.
Strange that Iraq chose the 407 over the MD530F, which has been operating in-country for the last 6 years. As with the AT-6B (and T-50...), they'll have the pleasure of wringing the bugs out of the system.
Interestingly, the U.S. Army (and not Bell) will be doing the weapons integration, on standard law enforcement equipped aircraft purchased from the OEM.
I/C
Strange that Iraq chose the 407 over the MD530F, which has been operating in-country for the last 6 years. As with the AT-6B (and T-50...), they'll have the pleasure of wringing the bugs out of the system.
Interestingly, the U.S. Army (and not Bell) will be doing the weapons integration, on standard law enforcement equipped aircraft purchased from the OEM.
I/C
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It is slightly unfair to call them ARH without the 900+ hp engine or the fancy new panel.
Maybe it's exactly because the 530F has been ripping around there that they wanted a different looking machine.
Maybe it's exactly because the 530F has been ripping around there that they wanted a different looking machine.
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Nope that is in the ball park , a green As350B2 is about 2.05 MUSD and the 407 is usually a little more.
BELL 407, Used BELL 407, BELL 407 For Sale at Controller.com
2 brand new at 2.35 and 2.59 MUSD here.
Surprising ( but not really ) how many factory new HC there are available.
BELL 407, Used BELL 407, BELL 407 For Sale at Controller.com
2 brand new at 2.35 and 2.59 MUSD here.
Surprising ( but not really ) how many factory new HC there are available.
Thread Starter
Actually it was not the three aircraft's price tag that galled me...but rather the US Army ARH cost of 14 Million per unit!
That is one very expensive JetRanger!
That is one very expensive JetRanger!
