Bell Textron will establish a subsidiary in Ukraine to provide helicopter maintenance services
The American company Bell Textron has announced the establishment of a subsidiary in Ukraine—Bell Textron Ukraine—which will provide helicopter maintenance and repair services.
This was reported by Defence Express.
The new entity will support the company’s operations in Ukraine and lay the foundation for long-term industrial cooperation. Plans also include opening a specialized office and potentially expanding manufacturing capabilities in the future.
“Bell is committed to establishing a presence in Ukraine to foster cooperation and long-term growth,” said Jeffrey Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Strategic Projects.
Bell Textron believes that its helicopters can strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. This primarily refers to the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom models, which feature a high degree of component standardization and are relatively easy to maintain.
The attack helicopter AH-1Z Viper is being considered as one of the options for strengthening the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Its features include a 20-mm M197 cannon and the capability to fire APKWS II, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-179 JAGM missiles. According to estimates, this configuration makes it particularly effective against air targets.
The UH-1Y Venom transport helicopter can be used to carry troops and cargo: up to 8 soldiers, with a maximum speed of up to 315 km/h and a combat radius of approximately 220 km.
At the same time, the question of potential procurement volumes and funding sources remains open. According to preliminary estimates, a full-scale program could cost over $1 billion.
Experts also note that crew training can take up to 7 months, although this period can be shortened if necessary.
In addition, the Dutch government is allocating an additional aid package of 248 million euros to provide the Ukrainian army with modern drones. The country’s defense minister, Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, made the announcement at a regular meeting in the “Ramstein” format.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed Rome’s interest in developing joint defense production with Ukraine. Unmanned aerial vehicles are set to be the main focus of this cooperation.
