Bell Helicopter is preparing to launch operations in Ukraine, according to Oleksii Sobolev, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture. The government has expressed readiness to support the company’s initiative using targeted investment incentives. Technical consultations and feasibility assessments are expected to begin shortly.
Back in July 2024, Bell offered its 407M light attack helicopters to Ukraine, as announced by Executive Vice President for Strategy Jeffrey Schloesser during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK. In a September interview with Defense News, Ukrainian MP Vadym Ivchenko, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense, confirmed the country’s interest in acquiring 12 AH-1Z Viper helicopters from Bell.
Notably, this is not the first attempt at establishing Bell’s footprint in Ukraine. In February 2021, a year prior to the full-scale war, then-CEO of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Husiev disclosed plans to launch licensed production of Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters at the Odesa Aircraft Plant. The project had reached its final phase with investor backing, and the first helicopter was scheduled for completion by Ukraine’s 30th Independence Day.
According to Minister Sobolev, the potential cooperation with Bell could mark a new chapter in U.S.-Ukraine defense-industrial partnership.
