Introduction of the Bell 407M special mission helicopter
During the 2023 edition of the yearly Army Aviation Association of America Mission Solutions Summit, held from 26 to 28 April in Nashville (TN), Bell Helicopter Textron has publicly unveiled the Bell 407M special mission aircraft.
Call it a coincidence if you want but the news comes within days after Airbus announced its new military variants of the H125 helicopter, the MH-125 and AH-125 Ares. Scramble reported on this news on 25 April 2023.
The new Bell 407M is part of the company’s Special Mission Aircraft initiative to offer multi-mission civil helicopters modified for military use. These Special Mission Aircraft are tailored to countries that need an efficient and effective aviation platform to accomplish their defensive missions.
The 407M is meant to operate in military environments around the world that require an option in-between pure military and commercial platforms, and special mission aircraft can support that flexibility. Bell is designating Special Mission Aircraft as ‘M’ configurations starting with the 407 and is expanding this offering to other civil aircraft, including the 412, 429, and 505.
Leveraging the latest commercial avionics and flexible mission systems, these aircraft can be equipped with a range of armaments to carry out armed reconnaissance, special operations, light-attack, anti-piracy and other missions. Aircraft can also be equipped to support life-saving missions like medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, and humanitarian aid disaster relief. The various levels of capability are available through the foreign military sales program or direct commercial sales, depending on country requirements.
The 407M on display during the Summit, is actually Bell 407GXI N407VC (c/n 54806). It is set up in a six-station configuration and features an interactive display highlighting various specifications and capabilities. The 407M builds on a proven legacy with the Bell OH-58, which logged more than 750,000 combat flight hours and the 407 airframe that has more than 6 million flight hours.
Photo: Bell Helicopter Textron