Argentina’s Army, Air Force to split new order of Bell Textron helos

SANTIAGO, Chile — Argentina has ordered six 407 GXi helicopters from Bell Textron Canada, representatives of the country’s Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces Joint Staff announced Wednesday in Buenos Aires.

The helo will replace part of Argentina’s aging fleet of French-made SA 315B Lama light helicopters, which the Army and Air Force have used for 45 years in mountain-rescue and liaison roles. Three of the 407 GXi helos will go to the Army, and the other three to the Air Force.

The deal is worth $38 million, military sources in Buenos Aires told Defense News on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the contract.

The original requirement, issued almost a decade ago, was for 12 helicopters. This latest contract does not include options for additional aircraft.

Deliveries are to start in the second half of 2023.

“This is the beginning of the so-long-awaited replacement of the Lamas,” said Luis Piñeiro, an independent military analyst based in Buenos Aires. “These helicopters are not only necessary to support military deployments in mountainous Andean areas, but also perform important tasks in community support and rescue of civilian mountain climbers.”

José Higuera is a Latin America correspondent for Defense News.

智利圣地亚哥——阿根廷国防部和武装部队联合参谋部的代表周三在布宜诺斯艾利斯宣布，阿根廷已向贝尔德事隆加拿大公司订购了六架407 GXi直升机。

这架直升机将取代阿根廷老旧的法国制造的SA 315B Lama轻型直升机，阿根廷陆军和空军已使用该型直升机执行山地救援和联络任务长达45年。407架GXi直升机中，三架将交付陆军，另外三架将交付空军。

布宜诺斯艾利斯的军方消息人士告诉《防务新闻》，这笔交易价值 3800 万美元。由于他们未被授权讨论该合同，因此要求匿名。

最初的需求是在近十年前提出的，当时订购了12架直升机。这份最新的合同不包含增购飞机的选项。

预计将于2023年下半年开始交付。

“这是人们期待已久的拉马直升机替换计划的开始，”布宜诺斯艾利斯的独立军事分析师路易斯·皮涅罗说。“这些直升机不仅对支援安第斯山脉山区军事部署至关重要，而且在社区支援和救援登山者方面也发挥着重要作用。”

何塞·伊格拉是《防务新闻》拉丁美洲记者。