Bell recently delivered two Subaru Bell 412EPX medium helicopters during a ceremony at La Aurora International Airport marking the 101st anniversary of the Guatemalan air force. The aircraft for Guatemala are part of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract signed between Bell and the U.S. Army Multinational Aviation Special Programs Office earlier in 2022.
The 412EPX’s main rotor gearbox improves horsepower and maximum weight capacity, enabling the aircraft to transport more supplies and perform operations more efficiently. In addition, the helicopter has a maximum internal weight of 12,200 pounds, external weight of 13,000 pounds, and can lift up to 5,000 pounds of goods with a cargo hook. More than 54 percent of the Bell 412 global fleet is deployed in military and para-public missions worldwide and the fleet has amassed more than 6.5 million flight hours.
Guatemala's air force operates several Bell models, including the 206, 212, 407, 412, and UH-1. Its 412EPXs “will support missions including disaster response, humanitarian relief, and other utility needs,” said Maj. Gen. Henry Yovani Reyes, the country's minister of national defense.