American manufacturer Bell Helicopter has announced plans to invest in the Ukrainian defense industry and begin manufacturing helicopters in the country. This is from Ukrainian Minister of Economy, Olexi Sobolev.
Local governments have expressed their intention to support the project using mechanisms to attract foreign investment. The plan is currently in the technical consultation and feasibility investigation stage.
This proposal is not completely new. Previously, a plan to manufacture a private version of the UH-1 helicopter locally was considered, but the project was not realized. Since the Russian invasion began in 2022, Bell has stepped up its model offering to Ukrainian forces. In July 2024, at the Farnborough Air Show, the company officially proposed a Bell 407M, a military-style multi-purpose helicopter.
Kiev has also requested that the AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter be provided as part of the US military aid package since 2022.
Although there are no specific details yet about Bell’s next steps in Ukraine, the company plans to focus first on the military sector and then enter the civilian market.
source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @BellFlight | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
