Thu, Aug 04, 2005
Mirabel Plant Will Do A Lot Of The Work
Bell Helicopter has been awarded a
$2.2 billion contract by the United States Army to build its next
generation Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, or ARH. The ARH will
replace the Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter also produced by
Bell. The
contract calls for Bell Helicopter to build 368 aircraft for
delivery during fiscal years 2006 through 2013. The Mirabel, Quebec
Bell Helicopter facility will perform a large portion of the work
on that contract, according to Bell.
"We are honored to have been chosen by the US Army to continue
our legacy of providing outstanding Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter
technology," said Mike Redenbaugh, Chief Executive Officer of Bell
Helicopter Textron. "The Army requires a state-of-the art Armed
Reconnaissance Helicopter and that's exactly what Bell Helicopter
will deliver."
Bell's ARH is a militarized version of its highly successful 407
single engine light helicopter. The Bell ARH will provide the Army
with exceptional mission versatility and with the flexibility to
accomplish armed reconnaissance, light attack, troop insertion, and
special operations missions with a single aircraft. The Bell ARH
will also provide greater deployability, interoperability and
survivability.
"We look forward to this partnership both with the Army and with
our world-class aerospace suppliers-to provide a premier aircraft
to America's troops," Redenbaugh said.
The 1600 Mirabel employees will accomplish an important portion
of this work, Bell executives said. They will assemble the 368
basic Bell 407s that will then be transferred to the USA for
completion and delivery. Bell Helicopter's Mirabel President's
Jacques St-Laurent stated: "I am delighted that the Mirabel
employees will have the opportunity to contribute to this
challenge. We are the best in the world when it comes to commercial
helicopter assembly and we will prove it
once more."
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