The US Department of Defence (DoD) has contracted Bell Helicopter to deliver 10 refurbished UH-1 Huey II utility helicopters to two African nations for a combined USD86.79 million.
A Bell-owned Huey II on display at FIDAE 2010 in Chile. This ageing aircraft has been effectively 'zero-timed' and is as new. (IHS/Gareth Jennings)
The contracts, announced by the DoD on 27 September 2016, will see five helicopters delivered to Kenya and five to Uganda before the end of 2017.
While the cost of the Ugandan contract is USD34.54 million, that for Kenya is valued at USD52.24 million. This difference is most likely explained by differing sustainment and support packages for each nation.
An infographic detailing the mix of existing, new, and modified components in the upgraded Huey II. (Bell Helicopter)
The Huey II upgrade kit takes a standard UH-1 and equips it with a more powerful engine, new dynamic parts (such as rotors, transmissions, and gearboxes), new wiring, and an optional 'glass' cockpit. The surplus airframes have also been 'zero-timed'.
Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact
