Guyana requested to buy new Bell helicopters
The Government of Guyana has requested to buy four new Bell helicopters; two Bell 412EPi and two Bell 429, both with customer-unique modifications.
On 30 October 2020, the US State Department has given approval for the foreign military sale of these four Bell helicopters and equipment following negotiations which began last year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said that it delivered the required certification and notified Congress of the possible sale.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which celebrates its 55th anniversary this month, has a long tradition of operating Bell helicopters with its Air Corps; with Bell 206, Bell 212 and Bell 412 all flown for many years. The new Bell 412s and Bell 429s will augment two Bell 206 helicopters, received second-hand in 2008, and the single Bell 412 which has not been flown for many years.
The helicopters will be based at Timehri airport, Georgetown and Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown and serve in a variety of roles, like homeland defense, maritime surveillance, patrol, and interdiction, counter narcotic trafficking and transnational criminal organisations and deter regional threats and support coalition partners overseas.
Photo: via demerarawaves.com