The United States is seeking a used Bell 212 utility helicopter to transfer to Uruguay, the Multi-National Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO) Program Executive Office (PEO), Aviation, announced on 5 February.
One of two Uruguayan Bell 212 helicopters currently deployed to the DRC in support of the UN MONUSCO mission. The US is looking for a used 212 to give to Uruguay, although it is unclear if this will add to the UN mission or replace one of the two helicopters already there. (Uruguayan Air Force)
The helicopter, which is to be delivered in a flight-worthy condition four months after contract signature, is to be equipped with a night-vision goggle (NVG)-compatible cockpit, weather radar, flotation system, as well as specific communications and navigation equipment set out by the MASPO PEO.
The solicitation comes two months after the US Army said it was looking for a vendor to supply Bell 212 parts to sustain Uruguay’s two helicopters flying in support of the United Nation’s (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These two helicopters, procured by the Uruguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya: FAU) in 1981, have been in the DRC since 2010 (a third helicopter arrived in 2012, but later in 2015 the force was downsized back to two). It is unclear if the FAU is now looking to restore a third helicopter to the mission, or if this surplus helicopter is being acquired to replace one of the two currently flying.
In its original solicitation for spares parts, the US Army said it would issue a contract in early January. No announcement to this effect has yet been made.
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