The U.S. State Department approved a foreign military sale to Zambia of military helicopters and related logistics support for an estimated cost of $100 million, the Pentagon said in a statement on Monday.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of this proposed deal, valued at $100 million, funded through a mix of Foreign Military Financing and Zambian national funds.
The request from Zambia includes Bell 412 helicopters equipped with radio communication, navigation systems, weather radar, and transponder capabilities. The package also provides qualification and transition training for pilots and maintainers, technical assistance, contractor field support, and aviation ground support equipment. Additional components include spare parts, special tools, quality assurance inspections, and air freight delivery.
The principal contractor will be Bell Textron, located in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the Pentagon.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Zambia of Bell 412 Enhanced Performance Exportable Medium-Lift Transport Helicopters and related elements of logistics and program support,” the Pentagon said.
Zambia’s armed forces are expected to utilize these helicopters for peacekeeping, regional security, disaster response, and humanitarian aid missions.
The Bell 412EP is a medium-lift transport helicopter designed to accommodate one or two pilots and up to 13 passengers. It can carry a maximum external load of approximately 6,614 pounds (3,000 kilograms).
Zambia already operates eight Bell 412 helicopters in its air forces’ fleet, it earlier bolstered its fleet by inducting two Bell 412EP helicopters in March 2024. This follows the United States’ announcement in September 2023 of an $80 million grant to Zambia for the procurement of four Bell 412EPs. The first two helicopters, previously registered as N412HS and N412TH, were initially built in 1996 and 1997, and were most recently owned by Copter Lease in the United States.
The ZAF maintains an extensive fleet of Bell/Agusta-Bell helicopters, having operated numerous models over the years. In 2021, three Bell/Agusta-Bell 412SP helicopters (AF717, AF718, and AF720) were acquired from Italy and South Africa, joining a dozen surviving Agusta-Bell 205s.
In March 2023, then Zambia Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Colin Barry, confirmed the completion of procurement procedures for a medium utility helicopter. This led to the acquisition of a second-hand Bell 212 from the United States in June 2023. The helicopter, designated AF721, was previously operated by Era Helicopters in Canada and sold through Copter Lease LLC. Barry also indicated plans to acquire two additional helicopters for medical support missions.
Zambia operates a diverse range of helicopters, including Mil Mi-171Sh and Mi-171E troop transport and assault helicopters delivered from Russia between 2015 and 2017, comprising half a dozen units.
In February 2023, Zambia’s Ministry of Defence signed a contract for two Enstrom 480B helicopters intended for pilot and personnel training, with an included training package. These helicopters are equipped with cargo hooks, hard points for cameras, Garmin avionics, and glass panels. One helicopter features a full glass cockpit, and the other has a hybrid glass and analogue panel to provide training with a flight deck similar to the gauge-equipped Mi-17s, which form the core of the fleet. The Enstrom helicopters were inducted into service in March 2024.
