IAI providing nacelle and seating systems for Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor Tiltrotor

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) part of team delivering on next generation of vertical flight

Fort Worth, Texas (Nov 3, 2016) Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, continues to execute to plan on the V-280 Valor tiltrotor with the support of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as part of Team Valor. IAI’s LAHAV Division supplies the nacelles and IAI’s GOLAN INDUSTRIES Division supplies seating systems for the next generation tiltrotor and, along with 10 additional premier aerospace companies, is working to deliver the leap-ahead performance of the V-280 to the warfighter.

To see images of the V-280 nacelles and seating systems, please follow this link.

“IAI integrated seamlessly into Team Valor’s digital engineering and manufacturing environment and delivered highly specialized parts on schedule and with exacting detail,” said Lisa Atherton, Bell Helicopter executive vice president of Military Business. “In addition to the crew seats, IAI has provided more than 700 details and assemblies including sheet metal formings, fabricated composites, and additive manufacturing details. These are all vital elements which make up the V-280 Valor’s revolutionary fixed engine/rotating proprotor nacelles. IAI continues to be a vital and valued part of the V-280 program.”

The Tel Aviv based aerospace company joined the V-280 effort in October of 2014.  IAI deliveries for the V-280 started in May 2015 and concluded in August 2016. Participation in the V-280 program called for IAI to become the first international teammate to be integrated into the Bell Helicopter digital environment, enabling rapid collaboration and reduced lead time.

“Our company has earned a global reputation as a leader in aerospace technologies, and we are happy to use our advanced capabilities to create this unique and technologically advanced aerial platform,” said Shaul Shahar, IAI's executive vice president and general manager of the Military Aircraft Group. “IAI’s unique manufacturing processes allow cost reduction, enabling Team Valor to deliver a high quality and affordable tiltrotor aircraft. We are proud of our contribution to the Bell V-280 Valor and believe our relationship with Bell Helicopter will continue to be strengthened in the future.”  

The advanced technology of tiltrotor flight delivers unmatched efficiency and range unavailable with traditional aircraft. The V-280 provides the high speeds and endurance of fixed wing flight while also providing low speed agility and flexibility of rotary flight mode.

IAI offers a wide array of services for the maintenance, refurbishment, and upgrade of military aircraft and helicopters. The company utilizes a broad supply chain which incorporates several Israeli and U.S. suppliers. In addition to providing parts for the V-280, IAI worked alongside Bell Materials and Processes Control to help certify several international suppliers in accordance with Bell Helicopter process specifications.

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About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Bad Boy Off Road and Textron Systems. For more information, visit www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the risk that the U.S. Army will not choose the Bell V-280 for its Future Vertical Lift program; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses or delays in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; changes in worldwide economic or political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates or foreign exchange rates; our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; the U.S. Government’s ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government’s convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; and performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors or business partners.