The T-407 combat choppers manufactured by Bell Helicopters were delivered this month to Iraq's Camp Taji and are designed to fire air-to-ground missiles.

Military experts say the training of Iraqi army pilots will help accelerate the deployment of the combat helicopters, which are due to be fielded by the end of next year.

Described as a modified version of the Bell 407, including the ability to fire air-to-ground missiles, the T-407 has been a coveted combat aircraft for the Iraqi forces. An additional 27 helicopters -- Armed Scout Helicopters designed and manufactured by Bell Helicopters -- have been ordered.

"To receive the aircraft is something like a dream that became a reality," the Iraqi commander and instructor pilot with 21st Squadron, Iraqi Army Aviation Command, was quoted saying in the Defense Talk Web site.

"The arrival of these new, high-technology helicopters is a result of a great deal of hard work by the team comprised of both Iraqi and U.S. airmen," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, director of Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force, and commander of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing.

Military experts say the T-407s will allow Iraqi pilots to become familiar with the aircraft and practice techniques. The helicopters were inspected for quality assurance before the first flight test.

The Iraqi army has two freshly trained instructor pilots, who along with their U.S. Forces-Iraq adviser counterparts, will soon begin the process of developing a cadre of instructor pilots to establish a self-sustaining program to support Iraq's Armed Scout Helicopter program, a U.S. Army statement said.

"The T-407 is the first step for us to help the Iraqi army aviation be part of the Iraqi army who helps to protect and serve our people," said an Iraqi officer during the test flight.

Under the deal, spare parts, ground support equipment and tools are also provided. Aircraft maintenance through contractor logistics support will also be included.

The Armed Scout Helicopters will be equipped with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and data-link capabilities, U.S. military officials said. They said they will also be armed with a .50-caliber machine gun and 2.75-inch rockets.

"For the Iraqis to have such capabilities with cutting-edge technology in avionics," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Scott Fitzner, a foreign military sales case manager with U.S. forces in Iraq, " it gives them the ability to protect themselves, the people of Iraq and ensure they provide a very formidable counter-terrorism capability."

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