Bell Helicopter Sees Promise for Armed 407AH and 429
The 407AH is Bell’s first commercially qualified armed helicopter.
The Bell 407AH can be customized with multiple weapons packages, including a minigun and rocket pods. (Photo: David McIntosh)
The Bell 407AH can be customized with multiple weapons packages, including a minigun and rocket pods. (Photo: David McIntosh)

Bell Helicopter Textron has high hopes that three aircraft making their Dubai Air Show debuts–the Bell 407AH and 429, and Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor–will soon find permanent homes in the Middle East. The 407AH is Bell’s first commercially qualified armed helicopter and served as the basis for the U.S. Army’s armed reconnaissance helicopter program, which was cancelled in 2008.

The new aircraft, unveiled last March, has attracted a lot of interest after being shown earlier this year in Brunei. Here in Dubai, the 407AH is on display with the 429 light twin developed with Korea Aerospace Industries (Static A72/73).