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From our durable Huey aircraft that served and saved warfighters in the Vietnam War to our tiltrotor technology, we have an undeniable military legacy. During Bell’s peak production period during the Vietnam War, our teams were producing 150 Bell Hueys per month in addition to 50 other helicopters.  With its reputation as a durable, reliable platform, the Bell Huey earned the respect of the troops. The Huey and Cobra platforms grew into the powerful duo of the Bell UH-1Y Venom and the Bell AH-1Z Viper. This fleet continues serves the United States Marine Corps and other global military organizations with their 85 percent commonality and seamless ability to work in tandem.

The pursuit for tiltrotor technology began with the Bell XV-3a in 1955. Fast-forward a few years and a lot of testing and development, and Bell had demonstrated the real potential of tiltrotor flight with the first flight of the XV-15 in 1977. Now, the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey continues to distinguish itself in an expanding number of roles for the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and more recently the U.S. Navy. With over 400 aircraft in the fleet accumulating over 500,000 flight hours, the world’s strongest tiltrotor is an unstoppable asset for any military fleet it joins.

Always ready to build the next generation of military aircraft, our teams are pursuing the future of vertical lift by adapting our current technology to meet the needs of the U.S. Army. Bell has been down-selected for both U.S. Army aviation programs, the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programs. As part of the first selection, Bell is designing, manufacturing, and testing the Bell 360 Invictus, a prototype rotorcraft designed to provide improved lethality, survivability, and extended reach for Army Aviation. This selection follows almost a full year of design and risk-reduction work by the Bell team as part of the initial contract phase.

As for FLRAA, Bell is selected to be the project agreement holder for the competitive demonstration and risk reduction (CD&RR) effort. For more than a two and a half years, the Bell V-280 Valor has been undergoing flight testing, surpassing 280 knots, performing maneuverability exercises for government visitors and making more huge strides to prove its capabilities.

Our connection to military service runs deep. Building efficient, durable aircraft for servicemen and women has always driven us to create new patents, test new technology and build amazing machines that strengthen these brave, honorable teams for more than 85 years.

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 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, Arctic Cat, 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, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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