WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army has awarded Bell Helicopter Textron a $27.3 million modification to a foreign military sales (FMS) contract. The deal covers the procurement and delivery of four bell412EP helicopters for the Argentina Air Force. It also includes training.
The contract follows approval by the U.S. State Department in November 2015 of a request made by Argentina for the four helicopters. The contract was originally estimated to cost $80 million and was to include spare parts, tools, publications, training, round support equipment, and U.S. government technical assistance. Because none of these elements were included in the final contract, it is possible that a follow-on deal will be signed at a later date.
The aircraft will be used for search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping support, scientific operations in Antarctica, and other missions.
Argentina is slowly working to upgrade the equipment of its armed forces. After years of negligence, the equipment has entered a state of disrepair, as demonstrated by the loss of the ARA San Juan submarine. Although funds are limited due to the government's attempt to reduce deficit spending, efforts will be made to upgrade its armed forces.
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