Wichita, KS (April 27, 2026) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the opening of its Wichita Assembly Center (WAC) for the MV-75 Cheyenne fuselage assembly in Wichita, KS. Bell began fuselage manufacturing operations at the facility in October of 2025, as a part of the acceleration initiative directed by the U.S. Army.
“Today’s celebration marks a significant milestone for the Air Capital of the World and underscores the critical role Kansans play in supporting our national security. Wichita has deep roots in aviation and defense, and Bell Textron’s presence in the community will further strengthen that legacy as Kansas workers help produce the next generation of military aircraft,” said Sen. Jerry Moran. “This facility represents a new chapter of Army aviation and of Bell’s investment into Kansas. I have long supported this critical program and the Army’s efforts to accelerate its production. I am pleased that Bell Textron has chosen Kansas for this investment, a decision that will strengthen our national security while expanding opportunities for Wichita’s highly skilled workforce.”
In addition to manufacturing the MV-75 fuselage at the WAC, work is ongoing at several of Bell’s other advanced manufacturing facilities in Texas, including Bell’s Advanced Composite Center in Fort Worth, and final assembly in Amarillo.
"As Bell moves through the assembly of the MV-75 test aircraft and into accelerated production, we are committed to investing in advanced manufacturing to ensure we deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost to our customer,” said Danny Maldonado, President and CEO, Bell. “Textron has a rich history with the state of Kansas as well as the city of Wichita, and we are proud to deepen that relationship as we establish this new facility.”
The MV-75 Cheyenne is a revolutionary capability for the U.S. Army flying twice as far and twice as fast as the current fleet and has a game-changing digital backbone and open architecture that ensures it remains on the technological forward-edge throughout its lifecycle. Bell will continue to invest in its manufacturing capability and capacity to ensure it delivers the most reliable and high-performing long-range assault aircraft to the Army, on time and at an affordable cost.
This material is based upon work supported by the Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal under Contract No. W58RGZ-23-C-0001. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal.