Bell Textron Establishes Subsidiary in Ukraine With Plans to Localize Helicopter Production

The American company Bell Textron has announced the establishment of a subsidiary in Ukraine and plans to open a separate office to develop long-term industrial cooperation. This marks the first step toward implementing plans to localize helicopter production.

Bell Textron announced this in a press release.

It was stated that the unit will support Bell’s current and future projects focused on the assembly, maintenance, and repair of helicopters in the country.

The new entity has been named Bell Textron Ukraine and will serve as the company’s operational hub in Ukraine. A permanent office location has not yet been determined.

“This is an important step toward building practical and mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukraine’s defense and industrial base,” said Jeffrey Schlosser, Bell’s senior vice president of strategic programs.

According to him, the company is committed to establishing a presence in Ukraine to foster cooperation and long-term growth.

The company believes that the Bell AH-1Z Viper and Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters can strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and serve as the foundation for a long-term industrial partnership.

Bell and Ukraine

Following the outbreak of full-scale war, Bell Textron intensified its efforts to promote its products to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, since 2022, the Ukrainian government has appealed to the US to transfer Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters as part of military aid.

In July 2024, the company officially proposed a combat variant of the Bell 407M multi-purpose helicopter during the Farnborough International Airshow 2024.

A year later, in July 2025, it became known that the American company had plans to invest in Ukrainian industry and launch helicopter production in Ukraine. This was announced at the time by Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev. According to him, the government is ready to support the initiative using effective tools to attract investors.

At the AUSA 2025 international exhibition in October 2025, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine and Bell Textron signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the development of industrial cooperation in the field of aviation technology.

The document established a framework for creating manufacturing and service facilities in Ukraine. Specifically, the plan calls for opening a Bell representative office and establishing a center for final assembly and testing of helicopters.

Shortly thereafter, Bell Textron announced its readiness to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Bell AH-1Z Viper and Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters.