On March 29, the two new Bell 407 GXi helicopters of the Army Aviation finally arrived in Mendoza, completing their extensive journey that began several days ago from the United States. These aircraft are part of a joint purchase with the Argentine Air Force aimed at acquiring assets to operate in the unique mountainous geographic environment.
According to the Argentine Army’s official account on X (Twitter), the two Bell 407 GXi arrived at the 8th Mountain Aviation Section, a subunit under the VIII Mountain Brigade “Brigadier General Toribio de Luzuriaga,” based in Mendoza.
It is worth remembering that in early December 2024, the Argentine Army officially received the first two helicopters, registered as AE-340 and AE-341. The delivery ceremony took place at Bell Textron’s facilities in Pine Flats, Tennessee, where personnel from the Joint Military Airworthiness Directorate (DIGAMC) signed the necessary documentation to initiate the reception process.
The acquisition of these aircraft was carried out under an agreement signed between the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) at the end of 2022. The contract aimed at purchasing Bell 407 GXi helicopters, with the deal valued at USD 32,416,188.00 and covering the delivery of a total of six aircraft—three for the Air Force and three for the Argentine Army.
The Argentine Air Force received its first Bell 407 GXi in October 2023. On that occasion, a ceremony was held at the IV Air Brigade El Plumerillo, in Mendoza Province, to welcome the H-111, a helicopter that has been operating since then alongside the veteran SA-315 Lama helicopters of Squadron III for Search, Rescue, and Special Missions.
Bell 407 GXi
A descendant of a long and successful lineage, the Bell 407 was developed in the mid-’90s, incorporating lessons learned from the Bell 206L-4 Long Ranger. The first production Bell 407 flew on November 10, 1995, featuring several improvements, including a wider fuselage, a Rolls-Royce/Allison 250-C47 turboshaft engine, and a four-bladed composite rotor system derived from the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter. The new powerplant increased the maximum takeoff weight and enhanced performance in high-temperature and high-altitude operations. Since its maiden flight, Bell has produced over 1,500 units of the 407 series.
Over the years, the model has evolved into different variants, including the 407GX (Rolls-Royce 250-C47B engine and Garmin G1000H avionics), the 407GXP (Rolls-Royce 250-C47B/8), and finally, the Bell 407GXi. Military derivatives of the Bell 407 have also emerged, such as the ARH-70 Arapaho armed reconnaissance helicopter (which was ultimately canceled), the Bell 407GT (an improved version of the IA-407 used by the Iraqi Air Force), and the MQ-8C Fire Scout, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the U.S. Navy.
The latest Bell 407GXi variant is equipped with a Rolls-Royce 250-C47E/4 turboshaft engine featuring FADEC technology, providing better performance in hot and high conditions, along with a cruise speed of 133 knots (246 km/h). According to the manufacturer, the superior performance of the Bell 407GXi is further enhanced by its Garmin G1000H® NXi avionics suite.
The Bell 407GXi features a 2.4 m³ cabin with space for five passengers (or 3.7 kg/m²) and two crew members. It can be configured for a variety of missions, including medical evacuation, personnel transport, search and rescue, firefighting, and surveillance. Additionally, it can be equipped with various optional accessories, such as rescue hoists, external sling hooks, Bambi Buckets, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, and searchlights.
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