Yemen receives Huey helicopters

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has delivered four Bell Helicopter utility aircraft to the Yemeni air force under its 1206 program.

The aircraft were upgraded Huey II helicopters. Spares and associated tools were also delivered.

Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2006 established a new program that allows the U.S. Department of Defense to spend up to $200 million of its own appropriations to train and equip foreign militaries to undertake counter-terrorism or stability operations.

"The swift execution of the Yemen Huey II program demonstrates that the military departments -- in this case the U.S. Army -- can quickly deliver defense articles and services to U.S. partners with the cooperation of U.S. industry," said Brandon Denecke, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency's team leader for the Building Partner Capacity, Stability Operations and Counter-terrorism unit.

"However, even more important is that this program is helping the U.S. and Yemen to accomplish their common goals to combat terrorism."

The Defense Department said delivery of this package happened exactly 110 days after the U.S. government signed a $27 million contract with Yemen for four helicopters, training, spare parts, tools, support and transportation.

The first six Yemeni air force pilots began Huey training in November at a Bell Helicopter facility in Alliance, Texas.