American aircraft manufacturer Bell has made Ukraine an enticing offer – the company proposed acquiring its latest version of the 407M attack helicopter. According to Bell, company representatives recently held discussions with Ukrainian officials about potential helicopter deliveries.
Jeffrey Schlosser, Executive Vice President of Bell for Strategic Affairs, stated during his speech at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 that the 407M was offered to Ukraine as part of a broader global promotion of the light attack helicopter.
“We are working on selling the 407M worldwide and are in discussions with Ukraine,” said Jeffrey Schlosser, though he did not provide further details.
According to him, additional information about the potential acquisition of the helicopters is to be disclosed by the Ukrainian side.
The 407M was released by Bell in 2022, and it is based on the 407GT model, which was first introduced in 2013. The company describes this multipurpose helicopter as the most cost-effective, although it falls short compared to the AH-64 Apache in terms of attack capabilities. However, its versatility makes it ideal for tactical missions. The 407M version builds on the proven features of the OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, incorporating a modern weapon system.
The 407M is equipped with:
- Garmin G1000H NXi flight control system
- TekFusion Global Pathfinder mission and weapon control systems
- A cockpit with night vision (NVG) capabilities
- A turret with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor for long-range target identification and varying visibility conditions
- Two or four flexible weapon systems from CFD International, which are modular and feature quick-detach functions.
The manufacturer claims that the Bell 407M uses robust and modern components to operate in any tactical environment. It is equipped with a surface-to-air missile detection and countermeasure system, armored pilot seats, a fuel system seal, and more. The platform’s armament includes 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm guns, 70 mm unguided Hydra rockets, BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets, and Hellfire missiles.
The helicopter’s maximum speed is just under 250 km/h. The total useful load is 1156 kg, while the maximum takeoff weight is 2381 kg (2722 kg with external cargo).
Source: janes
