Bell Textron Inc to open representative office in Ukraine – memo

Ukraine's Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture and U.S. aircraft manufacturer Bell Textron Inc have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop industrial cooperation in the field of aviation technologies.

According to information published on the Ministry's website on Wednesday, the document was signed by Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Vitaliy Kindrativ and Bell's Executive Vice President for Strategic Pursuits Jeffrey Schloesser, in the presence of Lisa Atherton, President and CEO of Bell Textron Inc.

The memorandum lays the groundwork for establishing production and service facilities in Ukraine, which will promote the development of high-tech engineering and strengthen the country's industrial capacity.

"Bell Textron Inc has expressed readiness to develop its own production base in Ukraine for the assembly, maintenance, and repair of helicopters. This will not only create new jobs but also effectively revive Ukraine's national helicopter industry," the Ministry emphasized.

Under the agreements reached, the company will begin comprehensive preparations for localizing production, which includes opening a Bell representative office in Ukraine; establishing a Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) center; exploring opportunities to set up a joint venture with Ukrainian partners; and transferring technologies, equipment, and tools necessary to organize production.

The signed memorandum also provides for the training and internships of Ukrainian engineers and technical specialists in the United States, followed by further work at the future enterprise in Ukraine.

The Ministry added that these steps will form the basis for launching licensed helicopter production in Ukraine and creating new industrial capacities in the aviation sector.

Bell Textron Inc is an American aerospace company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and part of the Textron Corporation. Founded in 1935, Bell is one of the world's leading manufacturers of helicopters, tiltrotors, and aerospace systems used by the U.S. armed forces, NATO countries, and civilian operators in more than 120 countries. The company has decades of experience producing innovative aircraft, including the UH-1 Iroquois (Huey), AH-1 Cobra, V-22 Osprey, and Bell 505 Jet Ranger X.