Washington Greenlights Potential $800M Helicopter Sale to Iraq

BEIRUT — The U.S. State Department has authorized a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of Bell 412EPX and 407M helicopters to Iraq, valued at $800 million.

According to a congressional notification released yesterday by the department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, the proposed sale of an unspecified number of military helicopters “will improve Iraq’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its rotary wing transport, reconnaissance, and air-to-surface targeting capabilities.”

The details of the sale remain subject to change. Unit quantities and pricing may shift as negotiations progress, and U.S. lawmakers retain the authority to block such FMS agreements.

Beyond the helicopters themselves, the proposed package includes GAU-19 three-barrel machine guns, M260 2.75-inch 7-tube rocket launchers, Wescam MX-15HDI electro-optical and infrared sensors, missile launch detection systems, communications radios, spare parts, and ground-based support equipment.

Texas-based Bell Textron would serve as the primary contractor for the potential deal.

This announcement follows two months after Iraq declared its intention to disarm Iran-affiliated militias operating within its borders, setting a deadline of Sept. 30 for the groups to comply. It also comes roughly one month after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani visited Washington to advance major economic partnerships and address regional security concerns.

The Bell 412EPX is a twin-engine platform capable of supporting firefighting, law enforcement, and medical evacuation missions. Meanwhile, the Bell 407M is designed to conduct armed reconnaissance and light attack operations.

While the Bell 412EPX would represent a new addition to Iraqi forces, the Bell 407M helicopters would supplement an existing fleet already in the country’s military inventory.

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