The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $800 million Foreign Military Sale of helicopters and related equipment to Iraq, with Bell-Textron of Fort Worth, Texas named as the principal contractor. The package is intended to support Iraqi rotary-wing transport, reconnaissance and air-to-surface targeting capabilities, while the final configuration and value can still change before any contract is completed.
The proposed sale includes Bell 412EPX and Bell 407M helicopters, along with weapons, sensors, radios, spares, training and logistics support. Reported equipment also covers GAU-19 machine gun launchers, M260 rocket launchers, electro-optical and infrared sensors and missile launch detection systems.
The approval is part of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process and does not represent a signed order. Bell gains a significant potential export opportunity in the Middle East, but Iraq’s procurement still depends on subsequent steps in the programme.