US$16M newly-manufactured Bell helicopters expected to arrive in Guyana soon

Two recently purchased helicopters for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a Bell 407 and a Bell 429, are currently being flown to Guyana, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan has confirmed. According to reports, the new helicopters departed the United States (US) on November 21 and reached Puerto Rico on Sunday, after stops in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic.

The Guyana Government had in late 2024 signed a US$16 million contract with Bell Textron Inc. for the supply of the two advanced rotary wing aircraft. The historic signing was done in the presence of Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot; the Chief of Defence Staff and other officials. Speaking during that signing ceremony, Minister Singh had said these investments were targeted towards improving all aspects of the Force’s operations as well as supporting surveillance of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and joint service operations. Brigadier Khan had also noted that the GDF has been operating the Bell brand since the 1980s with the initial purchase of five aircraft during that period. He had said a further two similar brands were purchased in 2007 and an additional two were acquired in 2021 and 2023. While the Force only has one Bell product in service to date, the acquisition of the two more comparable products will better position the Force to enhance the conduct of missions in remote areas of our country. It was reported that the new rotary wing aircraft will empower the GDF to effectively conduct a range of missions, including search and rescue, disaster relief, and border security operations.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Bell 429 Global Ranger, bearing registration marking N539BT, is a nine-seater, two engine aircraft that can be used for executive, air ambulance and emergency services and public safety rapid response, according to Bell. On the other hand, the Bell 407, with registration marking, N564BH, can be used for public safety-including fire safety, carrying large crew or transporting critical equipment- air ambulance and emergency services.
Furthermore, earlier this year, it was announced that the GDF purchased a new Tecnam P2012 aircraft that specialises in taking off from and landing on short runways, a feature that is in itself a tactical boost well suited for Guyana’s geography. The aircraft is a Short Take Off and Landing, also known as STOL, which means that it does not need a standard extended run way to take off or to land.
“This acquisition represents a key part of the GDF’s ongoing commitment to expanding its operational reach, especially in remote and underserved regions of Guyana. The Tecnam P2012 STOL’s capability for short-field operations makes it particularly well-suited to the country’s geographic demands,” the GDF had said in its statement. According to GDF, the aircraft was purchased with the aim of expanding the army’s reach in remote and underserved regions of Guyana. It was also purchased with the intention of boosting the Air Corps ability to support national security and humanitarian efforts, the statement had also noted.
Tecnam, an Italian aircraft manufacturer, is no stranger to Guyana having recently supplied two P2012 Traveller Continental aircraft to Roraima Airways. It was explained by the GDF that a senior team led by Colonel Administration and Quartering, Commander Roger Nurse, travelled to Italy to inspect the aircraft and sign the acceptance agreement. Last year, $42.2 billion was allocated in GDF budget to invest in capital assets. This year, that figure was about $50 billion.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive push to recapitalise the GDF’s assets, with the purchase of planes, helicopters and boats. The Government had announced the acquisition of a maritime patrol asset from France last year. A letter of intent was subsequently signed in April 2024, with the aim of procuring the vessel, between the Guyana Government and leading French aluminium shipbuilding company OCEA S.A.
The vessel is valued at EU$39.5 million and is expected to arrive in 2026. The inked agreement covers the manufacturing of the vessel, a comprehensive logistics package with spears and five years of maintenance of the product.
Additionally, a 115 Defiant monohull patrol vessel, which was designed and built by United States-based Metal Shark Boats to the tune of US$11.5 million for the GDF, had also arrived in Guyana last year to join the army’s Coast Guard fleet.
Prior to that, Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, as part of Line of Credit the Government of India had extended to Guyana, had delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the GDF. The planes were acquired to the tune of US$23.27 million.