8-Dec-2022 Source: HeliHub.com
The US Military has issued a single-source tender to Bell which will see the OEM carry out an avionics upgrade on the Bell 407 fleet operated by the Iraqi Army. Each helicopter is to be fitted with a the IDU-450 EFIS system from Genesys Aerospace, with the work to be completed in Iraq within a year of the contract being awarded.
The Iraq Army received three 407s in 2010 for training purposes, and a further 24 known as the “IA-407” model in 2012–13. They are used extensively by the IAAC to support counter-insurgency operations, and the IA-407 is equipped with an electro-optical system and armed with forward-firing .50 calibre machine guns and rocket pods.
Following some attrition, the remaining fleet of 3 trainers and 18 of the “IA-407” model are to be upgraded.
Genesys’ website advises that the IDU-450 EFIS suites feature a variety of PFD and MFD formats that can be configured to show flight instruments, moving map, HSI, flight planner, traffic, terrain, weather radar, and datalink.
The IDU-450s also feature a build-in Flight Management System and integrated Class-A TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) for enhanced safety and workload management.
The 3D Synthetic Vision EFIS from Genesys Aerosystems enhances safety, reduces pilot workload, increases flexibility, and lowers costs of operation. The IDU-450 comes standard with:
