Iraq Seeks Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters

In July 2008, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Iraq’s formal request to buy 24 helicopters. Based on the request, Iraq seems to be interested in Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters that act as scouts, perform light close air support, and escort other helicopters on dangerous missions. The IqAF currently relies on a small force of Russia’s popular Mi-8/17 and refurbished Bell “Huey II” helicopters. While the Russian helicopters can be armed, their status as Iraq’s only medium utility helicopters makes them a poor fit for an ARH role. Instead, Iraq looks set to choose between 2 competitors.

One is the Bell 407, whose derivative ARH-70A won the competition in America but has run into trouble. The other is Boeing’s AH-6 “Little Bird” light attack helicopters used by US Special Forces, which provided critical fire support during the 1991 “Backhawk Down” incident.The July 2008 request also included mortars for land use, but also adds airborne weapons – something the nascent post-Saddam IqAf has not really had to this point. Now, it appears that Iraq has picked its ARH winner – and a recent teleconference provided additional clarification re: Iraq’s plans…March 16/09: At a DoD roundtable [PDF], Col. Lawrence Avery Jr., the US force deputy director of MNSTC-I’s security assistance office, establishes the Dec 10/08 request as an additional, follow-on request:”...they are in the process of purchasing Bell—in—Bell 407 armed scout, which’ll be a lightly armed—lightly armed helicopter. The first deliveries will be in a couple of years from now. And they purchased 24 of those, and they have a request in, as they evaluate their budget, for potentially buying 26 more, for a total of 50. So that’s what they’re—that’s what they’re in the process of buying.They have Mi-17s that they already own.

They have Mi-17s—the 22 that were talked about earlier that are (in bounds/inbound ?) that—they’re looking at options for maybe arming some of those. So as far as, you know, what all their desirements are, I can’t really speak to that. I do know they are – the armed capabilities, I know their purchasing for helicopters is through Bell 407 armed scout program.”Dec 10/08: The US DSCA announces [PDF] an official request from Iraq, which appears to have selected a winner in its own Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter competition. Bells 407 ARH appears to have beaten Boeing’s AH-6 ARH, as Iraq asks for another squadrons’ worth (24 + 2 training/ spares) to match the 26 Mi-17s in 15th Special Ops squadron:26 Bell Armed 407 Helicopters26 Rolls Royce 250-C-30 Engines26 “M280” 2.75-inch/ 70mm rocket Launchers (see below, may be a typo)26 XM296 .50 Cal.

Machine Guns with 500 Round Ammunition Box26 M299 Hellfire Guided Missile LaunchersThe estimated cost is $366 million, to be finalized in forthcoming contract negotiations. Bell recently had this model canceled as the winner of the USA’s ARH-70 Arapaho competition, after continuing development with private funds for over a year. This order would throw their helicopter a critical lifeline at a critical time, and may even suffice to give it the market foothold Bell needs. The Long War Journal has reported [PDF] that Iraq’s initial ARH buy is just the first of several, and that the IqAF intends to field up to 5 squadrons by 2015.The request also includes test, measurement and diagnostics equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other forms of support, which will involve contractors and military representatives in country but have not been defined yet.

Nov 2/08: A briefing [PDF transcript] from Iraqi General Nasier Abadi, Vice Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Joint Forces, includes this item:“Expansion of reconnaissance and air surveillance and with King Air aircraft. and there have been a contract with helicopter to support the aerial support. There are 24 aircraft from Bell 407, 24 aircraft from Eurocopter 635, and 24 support aircraft AT-6B and 36 jet fighters of 516.”The EC635 is a successor to the French Gazelle helicopters used in Iraq by Saddam’s forces, and by opposing British forces as well. They can be armed, and neighboring Jordan has ordered a handful. Eurocopter has not announced any sale or options yet, which does not necessarily mean that no sale has been made. DJ Elliott of the Long War Journal claims 30 EC635s ordered, with 20 more on option.

Posted in: Helicopter,Iraq,USA