American manufacturer Bell Helicopters plans to invest in the Ukraine’s defense industry and start production of helicopters in the country, according to Ukraine’s Minister of Economics Oleksiy Sobolev.
The local government has shown a willingness to support the project with mechanisms to attract foreign investments. The plan is currently in the phase for technical consultation and feasibility studies.
The proposal is not entirely new: Previously, local production of the civilian version of the UH-1 helicopter was assessed, but the project was not completed. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Bell has intensified the offer of its models to the Ukrainian armed forces. In July 2024, under Farnborough Airshow, the company officially proposed Bell 407m, a militarized version of its multi -use helicopter.
In addition, since 2022, Kiev has requested the delivery of AH-1z Viper attack helicopters as part of the US military auxiliary packages.
There are still no specific details about Bell’s next step in Ukraine, but the expectation is that the company will first focus on the military market before exploring the civilian market.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: x @bellflight | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
