Chilean Bell 412
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Chile is a country with a lot of area to cover, ranging from long sea coasts and maritime areas to deserts and mountain ranges, in temperatures that range from hot to near-Arctic. While new F-16 C/D aircraft from the USA and second-hand Dutch F-16 MLUs will replace its 15 Mirage 50 Panteras as they prepare to retire, its F-5 E/F fleet is also headed for the scrap yard soon. In more prosaic roles, Chile has rather fewer military helicopters in its Army, Navy, and Air Force than one might imagine given its rugged topography. Looking over its long coast, meanwhile, the country must contemplate the finite lifespan of its aging P-3ACH Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Fortunately, copper prices are high these days, which gives the country some fiscal breathing room to undertake fleet recapitalizations – including a recent land purchase of Leopard 2A4 tanks. Now, a pair of recent aircraft purchases aim to begin redressing Chile’s recapitalization needs in helicopter support and maritime patrol – though neither is what one might call a large deal…

Chilean UH-1H
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Nov 20/07: The Fuerza Aerea de Chile currently relies on a handful of UH-1H Huey helicopters, plus a smaller number of Bell’s 412 helicopters that add modern avionics, 4-bladed rotors and a 28.5% power increase from their twin turboshafts. They will be adding 12 more Bell 412s for search-and-rescue and general troop transport duties under a recent deal with Bell Helicopter, terms not disclosed. Chilean Chief of the Air Force Gen. Julio Escobar said that:

“We evaluated several helicopters and feel the 412 will give us the capability to significantly increase our mission coverage. As you know Chile’s unique shape presents us with challenges and the 412 has the range to cover great lengths of territory and also performs equally well at sea level or high in the Andes.”

C-295MP concept
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Oct 18/07: Chile’s Servicio de Aviacion de la Armada has also undertaken a recent purchase, buying 3 C-295 maritime surveillance aircraft, with an option for another 5. EADS-CASA generally sells the smaller CN-235MPA Persuader as its maritime surveillance offering, but Chile’s long coast and maritime zones would make the C-295’s extra range important. These mid-tier maritime patrol aircraft will join Chile’s 3 aging P-3A Orions at the high end, and 3 light twin-turboprop EMB 111AN aircraft at the low end – and are likely to eventually replace the Orions entirely. Again, terms of purchase were not disclosed.