The Argentine Army (EA) has received the first two Bell 407 GXi helicopters, intended for liaison and high-altitude rescue operations.

At the end of 2022, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces (EMCOFFA) awarded Bell Textron Canada a contract for the acquisition of six Bell 407 GXi helicopters. This purchase, carried out jointly between the Argentine Army and the Air Force, includes the delivery of three units to each branch, aiming to replace the venerable SA-315B Lama helicopters in high-altitude missions. During the selection process, proposals from Airbus Helicopters with the H145 model and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with the LUH Mk-1 were also evaluated.

The replacement of the Lama helicopters is a project dating back to 2011, but its implementation was repeatedly delayed due to the recurring lack of defense resources. However, on December 4, the Joint Military Airworthiness Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (EMCOFFA) conducted the provisional inspection of two Bell 407 GXi helicopters at Bell’s facility in Tennessee, United States. These helicopters, the first destined for the Army, are expected to arrive in Argentina during the first quarter of 2025.

See also: Accident of an SA-315B Lama helicopter from the Argentine Army: What We Know

Meanwhile, the Argentine Air Force has already received its first Bell 407 GXi in October 2023. This helicopter is operating at the IV Air Brigade “El Plumerillo,” located in the province of Mendoza, where it performs tasks in the Andean region.