Taiwan strengthens Paraguay’s air fleet with four UH-1H Huey helicopters built under US license
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As reported by Pucará Defensa, Paraguay will receive four Bell UH-1H helicopters donated by Taiwan in August 2025. The confirmation was made on July 17 during a press conference in Asunción by General Julio Fullaondo, Commander of the Paraguayan Air Force. The announcement was part of the LXV edition of the Conference of Chiefs of the American Air Forces (COMJEFAMER 2025), hosted by Paraguay from June 16 to 20 and presided over by Fullaondo.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The UH-1 Huey variants accumulated more than 7.5 million flight hours during the Vietnam War, making it the most heavily used helicopter in that conflict and marking the highest total combat flight time recorded for a rotary-wing aircraft in a single war. (Picture source: US DoD)
The helicopters will be incorporated into the Paraguayan Air Force’s helicopter operations and are intended to support missions in both defense and logistical contexts, including humanitarian operations. President Santiago Peña had previously announced the upcoming delivery during a visit to the Chaco region in April 2025, where he described the aircraft as intended to improve support to military forces and assist affected populations during flood-related emergencies. This is the second confirmed donation of UH-1H helicopters from Taiwan to Paraguay, following the delivery of two aircraft and 30 Humvees in 2019.
The four helicopters will be assigned to the Grupo Aéreo de Helicópteros (GAH), a unit already operating UH-1H helicopters for missions inside Paraguay. These missions include humanitarian aid, transport, and support to internal operations. GAH personnel are already trained and experienced in flying the type. The helicopters will join a rotary-wing fleet that includes H125M, Bell 407, Robinson R66, and a reactivated Bell 427. This delivery aligns with broader efforts by the Paraguayan Air Force to enhance its operational capacity, which has recently included the acquisition of four new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer, the revitalization of mobile radars acquired from Israel, and the purchase of a nationwide radar system from Northrop Grumman. The air force has also restored a fifth T-35 Pillán trainer with support from ENAER and confirmed full availability of its fleet of AT-27 Tucano aircraft. Pilot training continues for the A-29s within the Grupo Aerotáctico, where the aircraft will form the 2nd Fighter Squadron “Indios.” This squadron is named in reference to the 11th Fighter Squadron that operated Fiat C.R.20bis aircraft during the 1933 Chaco War against Bolivia.
The four Bell UH-1H helicopters to be delivered in 2025 were originally produced in Taiwan under a license agreement signed in 1969 between Bell Helicopter and Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). This agreement marked a significant step in Taiwan’s industrial development. Between 1970 and 1976, 118 UH-1H helicopters were assembled by AIDC in Taichung, with approximately 60% of the airframe and 27% of the engine components sourced domestically. The helicopters were powered by the Lycoming T53-L-13B turboshaft engine rated at 1,400 horsepower. The UH-1H units served primarily in the Republic of China Army’s Airborne Special Service Aviation units, including the 1st and 2nd Aviation Divisions, and were also used by the Civil Airborne Service (now the National Airborne Service Corps) in missions including search and rescue and disaster response. By October 30, 2019, the remaining Taiwanese UH-1Hs were officially retired from service, and several were preserved for foreign aid purposes, including those destined for Paraguay.
The UH-1H is a variant of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois family, developed in response to a mid-1950s U.S. Army request for a turbine-powered utility helicopter for medical evacuation and general utility tasks. The first prototype, designated XH-40, flew in October 1956, followed by early production versions entering service in 1959. The UH-1H was introduced in 1967 as an upgrade of the UH-1D, featuring a longer fuselage and a 1,400 shp Lycoming T53-L-13 engine to improve performance in hot and high environments. Approximately 4,850 UH-1H units were built for the U.S. Army, and the type was licensed for production in several countries including Germany, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan. Production of all UH-1 variants exceeded 16,000 units by 1976. In Vietnam, more than 7,000 UH-1 helicopters were deployed in troop transport, cargo lift, medevac, and armed escort roles. Combat losses of UH-1s in Vietnam totaled 4,869 aircraft, of which 2,591 were Army UH-1s. Of these, 1,211 were lost in combat and 1,380 in operational accidents.
The design of the UH-1H includes a semi-monocoque metal fuselage, two-blade semi-rigid main rotor, and tubular landing skids. The aircraft has an empty weight of 2,360 kilograms and a maximum takeoff weight of 4,309 kilograms. It can transport up to 14 personnel, including crew, or six stretchers in medevac configuration. The maximum speed is 204 kilometers per hour, the operational range is approximately 510 kilometers, and the service ceiling is 7,010 meters. The helicopter’s climb rate is about 7.9 meters per second. Armament configurations vary depending on mission requirements, and include door-mounted M60 or M2 machine guns, 2.75-inch rocket pods, and in some cases, miniguns or grenade launchers. UH-1Hs have also been modified for light attack, reconnaissance, and command-and-control roles. Some variants, including the UH-1N and UH-1Y, were developed later with twin engines and updated avionics and structures.
The UH-1H has been used by over 70 armed forces worldwide, including those of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Bahrain, Brunei, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In Spain, approximately 70 units of the UH-1H and AB-212 variants have served in the Army and Navy. Civilian operators such as fire departments and law enforcement agencies have also used ex-military UH-1Hs. In 2025, Tehama County in California acquired a UH-1H through a U.S. federal program to support search and rescue operations. The aircraft is also used for aerial firefighting, humanitarian relief, and utility lift operations. Refurbished units remain active in Latin America, including in Chile and Panama. UH-1Hs in service with the Salvadoran Air Force and other Central American countries have continued flying despite their age, sometimes experiencing crashes, such as the September 2024 incident in El Salvador.
Cultural and technical interest in the UH-1H remains high. Its distinctive two-blade rotor creates a recognizable acoustic signature commonly associated with helicopters in the Vietnam War, as UH‑1 variants collectively have logged over 7.5 million flight hours in this conflict alone, making it the most widely used combat helicopter in history. The aircraft remains present in museums globally. Notable preserved examples include one at the Museum of Flight in Seattle that flew 1,400 hours in Vietnam and later served with the Alaska National Guard and King County before restoration, and another at The Helicopter Museum in the UK that saw service in both Vietnam and the Gulf War. Civilian market values for refurbished UH-1Hs range from $165,000 to over $2 million, depending on configuration and upgrades. A “UH-1H Plus” package includes a more powerful T53-L-703 engine (1,800 hp), composite rotor blades, improved avionics, structural modifications, and reduced weight. Operating costs for refurbished UH-1Hs average $644 per flight hour. The helicopter’s modular structure and mechanical simplicity have contributed to its continued use and adaptability in diverse mission profiles decades after its original production ended, offering a cost-effective alternative to newer platforms.
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As reported by Pucará Defensa, Paraguay will receive four Bell UH-1H helicopters donated by Taiwan in August 2025. The confirmation was made on July 17 during a press conference in Asunción by General Julio Fullaondo, Commander of the Paraguayan Air Force. The announcement was part of the LXV edition of the Conference of Chiefs of the American Air Forces (COMJEFAMER 2025), hosted by Paraguay from June 16 to 20 and presided over by Fullaondo.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The UH-1 Huey variants accumulated more than 7.5 million flight hours during the Vietnam War, making it the most heavily used helicopter in that conflict and marking the highest total combat flight time recorded for a rotary-wing aircraft in a single war. (Picture source: US DoD)
The helicopters will be incorporated into the Paraguayan Air Force’s helicopter operations and are intended to support missions in both defense and logistical contexts, including humanitarian operations. President Santiago Peña had previously announced the upcoming delivery during a visit to the Chaco region in April 2025, where he described the aircraft as intended to improve support to military forces and assist affected populations during flood-related emergencies. This is the second confirmed donation of UH-1H helicopters from Taiwan to Paraguay, following the delivery of two aircraft and 30 Humvees in 2019.
The four helicopters will be assigned to the Grupo Aéreo de Helicópteros (GAH), a unit already operating UH-1H helicopters for missions inside Paraguay. These missions include humanitarian aid, transport, and support to internal operations. GAH personnel are already trained and experienced in flying the type. The helicopters will join a rotary-wing fleet that includes H125M, Bell 407, Robinson R66, and a reactivated Bell 427. This delivery aligns with broader efforts by the Paraguayan Air Force to enhance its operational capacity, which has recently included the acquisition of four new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Embraer, the revitalization of mobile radars acquired from Israel, and the purchase of a nationwide radar system from Northrop Grumman. The air force has also restored a fifth T-35 Pillán trainer with support from ENAER and confirmed full availability of its fleet of AT-27 Tucano aircraft. Pilot training continues for the A-29s within the Grupo Aerotáctico, where the aircraft will form the 2nd Fighter Squadron “Indios.” This squadron is named in reference to the 11th Fighter Squadron that operated Fiat C.R.20bis aircraft during the 1933 Chaco War against Bolivia.
The four Bell UH-1H helicopters to be delivered in 2025 were originally produced in Taiwan under a license agreement signed in 1969 between Bell Helicopter and Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). This agreement marked a significant step in Taiwan’s industrial development. Between 1970 and 1976, 118 UH-1H helicopters were assembled by AIDC in Taichung, with approximately 60% of the airframe and 27% of the engine components sourced domestically. The helicopters were powered by the Lycoming T53-L-13B turboshaft engine rated at 1,400 horsepower. The UH-1H units served primarily in the Republic of China Army’s Airborne Special Service Aviation units, including the 1st and 2nd Aviation Divisions, and were also used by the Civil Airborne Service (now the National Airborne Service Corps) in missions including search and rescue and disaster response. By October 30, 2019, the remaining Taiwanese UH-1Hs were officially retired from service, and several were preserved for foreign aid purposes, including those destined for Paraguay.
The UH-1H is a variant of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois family, developed in response to a mid-1950s U.S. Army request for a turbine-powered utility helicopter for medical evacuation and general utility tasks. The first prototype, designated XH-40, flew in October 1956, followed by early production versions entering service in 1959. The UH-1H was introduced in 1967 as an upgrade of the UH-1D, featuring a longer fuselage and a 1,400 shp Lycoming T53-L-13 engine to improve performance in hot and high environments. Approximately 4,850 UH-1H units were built for the U.S. Army, and the type was licensed for production in several countries including Germany, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan. Production of all UH-1 variants exceeded 16,000 units by 1976. In Vietnam, more than 7,000 UH-1 helicopters were deployed in troop transport, cargo lift, medevac, and armed escort roles. Combat losses of UH-1s in Vietnam totaled 4,869 aircraft, of which 2,591 were Army UH-1s. Of these, 1,211 were lost in combat and 1,380 in operational accidents.
The design of the UH-1H includes a semi-monocoque metal fuselage, two-blade semi-rigid main rotor, and tubular landing skids. The aircraft has an empty weight of 2,360 kilograms and a maximum takeoff weight of 4,309 kilograms. It can transport up to 14 personnel, including crew, or six stretchers in medevac configuration. The maximum speed is 204 kilometers per hour, the operational range is approximately 510 kilometers, and the service ceiling is 7,010 meters. The helicopter’s climb rate is about 7.9 meters per second. Armament configurations vary depending on mission requirements, and include door-mounted M60 or M2 machine guns, 2.75-inch rocket pods, and in some cases, miniguns or grenade launchers. UH-1Hs have also been modified for light attack, reconnaissance, and command-and-control roles. Some variants, including the UH-1N and UH-1Y, were developed later with twin engines and updated avionics and structures.
The UH-1H has been used by over 70 armed forces worldwide, including those of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Bahrain, Brunei, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In Spain, approximately 70 units of the UH-1H and AB-212 variants have served in the Army and Navy. Civilian operators such as fire departments and law enforcement agencies have also used ex-military UH-1Hs. In 2025, Tehama County in California acquired a UH-1H through a U.S. federal program to support search and rescue operations. The aircraft is also used for aerial firefighting, humanitarian relief, and utility lift operations. Refurbished units remain active in Latin America, including in Chile and Panama. UH-1Hs in service with the Salvadoran Air Force and other Central American countries have continued flying despite their age, sometimes experiencing crashes, such as the September 2024 incident in El Salvador.
Cultural and technical interest in the UH-1H remains high. Its distinctive two-blade rotor creates a recognizable acoustic signature commonly associated with helicopters in the Vietnam War, as UH‑1 variants collectively have logged over 7.5 million flight hours in this conflict alone, making it the most widely used combat helicopter in history. The aircraft remains present in museums globally. Notable preserved examples include one at the Museum of Flight in Seattle that flew 1,400 hours in Vietnam and later served with the Alaska National Guard and King County before restoration, and another at The Helicopter Museum in the UK that saw service in both Vietnam and the Gulf War. Civilian market values for refurbished UH-1Hs range from $165,000 to over $2 million, depending on configuration and upgrades. A “UH-1H Plus” package includes a more powerful T53-L-703 engine (1,800 hp), composite rotor blades, improved avionics, structural modifications, and reduced weight. Operating costs for refurbished UH-1Hs average $644 per flight hour. The helicopter’s modular structure and mechanical simplicity have contributed to its continued use and adaptability in diverse mission profiles decades after its original production ended, offering a cost-effective alternative to newer platforms.
