American company Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., announced the signing of Letters of Intent (LOIs) aimed at evaluating potential areas of cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector.
According to the company’s press service, the documents were signed in Washington with the participation of representatives from Bell Textron, Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Ecology, and Agriculture, and UkraineInvest. The parties agreed to assess the possibilities for industrial partnership in connection with a potential procurement of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The delivery of the aircraft is planned to take place under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Within this framework, Bell will coordinate with the U.S. government to facilitate the transfer of the equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The company noted that this cooperation represents a step toward strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
“We are announcing this agreement and the potential delivery of these aircraft to Ukraine,” said Jeffrey Schlosser, Bell’s Senior Vice President for Strategic Development. “This initiative has been in preparation for some time, and we look forward to its implementation.”
Bell Textron is a global manufacturer of both commercial and military aircraft. The company works with government agencies and private operators in various countries. Its flagship models, the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom, are designed for coordinated operations on the battlefield, share 85% of their components, and are optimized for performance in modern military scenarios. “We believe that the H-1 series helicopters can play a significant role in further developing Ukraine’s defense capabilities, providing necessary updates and enhancing air support,” Schlosser added.
The company emphasizes that the project could become part of a long-term strategy for cooperation between the United States and Ukraine in aviation security and defense technologies.
Bell Textron has over 90 years of experience in the aerospace industry. The company was the first to break the sound barrier, certify a commercial helicopter, and participate in NASA’s first mission to the Moon. Currently, Bell continues to develop tiltrotor technology and innovative solutions for future air mobility.
The company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with offices in multiple countries. Nearly a quarter of Bell’s workforce are former military personnel, reflecting the company’s understanding of defense sector requirements and its commitment to supporting the armed forces of partner nations.
Source: Bellflight
