The helicopter manufacturer has signed LOIs to explore cooperative opportunities with Ukraine including the supply of aircraft
Washington, D.C. (Oct. 20, 2025) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has signed Letters of Intent (LOI) to identify and evaluate areas for cooperation with Ukraine.
At a ceremony in Washington, delegates from Bell Textron, the Ministry of Economy, Ecology, and Agriculture of Ukraine, and UkraineInvest signed agreements to assess approaches of Industrial Cooperation as part of a potential procurement of the AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft. Under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) program, Bell would work with the U.S. Government to supply aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, bolstering their operational capabilities.
“We are proud to announce this agreement, and the potential to supply these incredible aircraft to Ukraine,” said Jeffrey Schloesser, senior vice president, Strategic Pursuits, Bell. “This initiative has been in development for some time, and we look forward to bringing it to completion.”
Bell Textron is a world-leading provider of commercial and military aircraft, serving both public and private sector customers globally. Within the defense sector, the Bell AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom aircraft stand as two of the company’s premier platforms. Designed to operate seamlessly together, the two aircraft share 85% parts commonality, making the models one of the most versatile and effective helicopter pairings available for modern military operations.
“We are confident that H-1s can play a pivotal role in further building defense capabilities in Ukraine, providing a much-needed upgrade while strengthening current Ukrainian air support,” continued Schloesser.
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, risks related to U.S. Government contracts as described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Bell
Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.
We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.
Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
About Textron
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, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
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