Bell Helicopters Plan Investment and Helicopter Production in Ukraine

U.S.-based Bell Helicopters intends to invest in Ukraine’s defense industry and expand helicopter production in the country, Ukraine’s Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev announced.

The government, he said, is ready to support the initiative using tools designed to attract foreign investors.

The next stage involves technical consultations and feasibility assessments.

If successful, the project could mark a new chapter in U.S.-Ukrainian defense industrial cooperation.

The idea of assembling Bell helicopters in Ukraine is not new. In the past, the possibility of localizing the production of the civilian version of the UH-1 was discussed, but never materialized.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Bell has stepped up efforts to market its platforms to Ukraine’s armed forces.

At the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024, the company officially proposed the Bell 407M — a militarized version of its multipurpose helicopter — for Ukrainian use.

Additionally, since 2022, Kyiv has been requesting the transfer of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters as part of U.S. military assistance.

Details of Bell’s future projects in Ukraine remain unclear. However, the company is expected to prioritize the defense sector before moving into the civilian market.