DTN News - SOFIC NEWS: Bell Helicopter Features Revolutionary Aircraft At SOFIC 2013

DTN News - SOFIC NEWS: Bell Helicopter Features Revolutionary Aircraft At SOFIC 2013

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Bell Helicopter
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 14, 2013: Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today its participation in the annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) held May 14 to May 16 in Tampa, Fla. Bell Helicopter will feature an armed Bell 407 on static display, its first commercially qualified armed helicopter, a CV-22 model and 3-D interactive programs demonstrating the capabilities of the V-22 Osprey and Bell V-280 Valor.

"SOFIC provides an important opportunity for us to spend time with current and potential customers," said Mitch Snyder, executive vice president for military programs at Bell Helicopter. "Our new 3-D programs give attendees the opportunity to experience the unmatched capabilities of the V-22 Osprey and Bell V-280 Valor. In addition, the armed Bell 407 on static display shows customers the versatility this aircraft offers with its various weapons configurations."

The V-22 Osprey is combat-proven and performs missions no other aircraft can approach. Tiltrotor is the only vertical lift platform capable of rapid self-deployment to any theater of operation. The V-22 is one of the safest rotorcraft in the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps fleet with more than 170,000 flight hours and outstanding operational performance. With its revolutionary combination of speed, range and vertical lift, the Osprey is changing the way wars are fought, humanitarian aid and critical supplies are delivered, and heroes are saved.

Introduced at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America's (AAAA) annual form and expo, the Bell V-280 Valor is Bell Helicopter's offering for the Joint Multi Role (JMR)/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Technology Demonstrator. Its unmatched capabilities - speed, range and payload - and its operational agility deliver the best value at the lowest technical risk. With 280 KTAS cruise speed and a combat range of 500-800 nm, the Valor provides twice the speed and twice the range of the current medium helicopter, more than doubling operational reach. The Bell V-280 is a true force multiplier as a result of its capabilities, covering more than five times the area of a current MEDEVAC and requiring smaller support infrastructure and security.

The armed Bell 407 includes the advanced technology of the best selling Bell 407GX. Built on the proven Bell 407 platform and designed for military and parapublic operations, the aircraft encompasses performance, reliability and maintainability. The armed Bell 407 is capable of performing a wide range of missions, configurable for multiple weapons and surveillance packages, including mini-guns, rocket pods, multi-sensor camera and NVG capabilities. The armed Bell 407 offers excellent hot and high performance, a spacious, multi-mission capable cabin with 85 ft3 (2.4 m3) of useable volume that accommodates six passengers, and a standard bi-fold door with a 61 in (155 cm) opening for quick, easy loading and unloading.

SOFIC's 2013 theme, "Strengthening the SOF Bond," provides a forum for military, government, academia and industry stakeholders to network and discuss current and future challenges and how to best support U.S. Special Operations Forces in four key areas: preservation of the force and families, human domain, support of the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) and innovation. Events include a business opportunities session, networking reception, USSOCOM Component Commander panel, USSOCOM Senior Enlisted Advisors panel, gala reception, dinner and awards presentation.

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 Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. 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 statement, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; 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; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers' ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.

Contact

BILL SCHROEDER
817-280-3100
mediarelations@bh.com
Online Media Kit

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Bell Helicopter
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman To Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman To Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy
*System Provides Greater Endurance, Range and Payload Capacity
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Northrop Grumman

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 25, 2012: The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander's intelligence-gathering efforts.

According to a U.S. Department of Defense news release on contract awards released April 23, the company will produce a total of eight Fire Scouts within an amount not to exceed $262 million. The Navy plans to purchase a total of 28 aircraft under a rapid development effort.

The Fire Scout endurance upgrade has been designated as the MQ-8C.

"Through our company-funded Fire-X demonstration effort we proved that using the mature unmanned systems architecture developed for the MQ-8B Fire Scout paired with the Bell 407 helicopter would provide greater capability efficiently and affordably," said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager for unmanned systems. "By using systems that have many years of development already invested in them we can meet the Navy's needs quickly."

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MQ-8C program. Major suppliers for new variant include Bell Helicopter and Rolls Royce.

Final assembly of the new Fire Scout variant will be completed at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit

www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

CONTACT: Warren Comer

         (858) 618-7788 Office
         (858) 705-7246 Cell
         warren.comer@ngc.com

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Northrop Grumman
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News: Bell 407 Production Reaches Historic Mark; Shin-Nihon Helicopter Corporation Takes 1,000th Aircraft

DTN News: Bell 407 Production Reaches Historic Mark; Shin-Nihon Helicopter Corporation Takes 1,000th Aircraft

Source: DTN News / Bell Helicopter Textron Canada

(NSI News Source Info) MIRABEL, QC, - June 16, 2010: Bell Helicopter's 407 reached a historic milestone today when Bell delivered the 1,000th production aircraft to longtime customer Shin-Nihon Helicopter Corporation Ltd. at its manufacturing facility here. "Bell customers count on our helicopters to go to work for them every day and we work hard to meet their high expectations," said John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT - News) company. "We are honored that Shin-Nihon Helicopter has chosen to extend our long business relationship by adding this historic aircraft to their busy fleet." This year is the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Shin-Nihon Helicopter. Shortly after its foundation, the company began operating the Bell Model 47G2. Today, its helicopter fleet includes seven 206L-3s, one Fuji-Bell 204B-2, three 427s and two 407s. The 1,000th 407, Serial No. 54000, will supplement that 407 fleet. As part of its purchase of the 1,000th 407, it has a fourth 407 on order in a transaction arranged by Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, Bell's independent representative in Japan for more than 50 years. "Our company well recognizes that helicopters manufactured by Bell have outstanding performance and exactly meet the requirements to fulfill the tasks assigned to us," Shin-Nihon Helicopter Executive Director Kouji Izumi said. "As a matter of fact, of the 13 helicopters Shin-Nihon owns, 12 are Bell helicopters. Thus, we are truly part of the extended Bell family. "Considering such circumstances," he said, "I hope that relationship between Bell and Shin-Nihon Helicopter will grow tighter and tighter and would like to ask Bell to continue to provide its high level of customer support." Shin-Nihon Helicopter will use the 1,000th Bell 407 to perform power-line patrols and contribute to its other missions, which include transportation of materials and equipment for construction, comprehensive aerial survey and photographing services, and transportation and filming and image analysis. The company also develops video equipment and analysis equipment, provides contracted operation and maintenance of helicopters and trains pilots and mechanics. About Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited A Bell Helicopter affiliate, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited manufactures Bell's commercial helicopters at its 656,600-square-foot (61,000-square-meter) Mirabel facility and employs 1,600 people there and at its facility in Calgary, Alberta. 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 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 Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. www.bellhelicopter.com Bell Helicopter, 12,800 rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada J7J 1R4 For further information Jim McKenna, (817) 280-7963 (office), (817) 964-0334 (cell), jmckenna@bellhelicopter.textron.com

Cynthia Garneau, (450) 971-6500, ext. 3114 (office),

CGarneau@bellhelicopter.textron.com

Bell Helicopter's 407 - Product Specifications

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/aircraft/commercial/pdf/407_Product_Specs.pdf

Rolls-Royce Wins Two U.S. Helicopter Contracts

Rolls-Royce Wins Two U.S. Helicopter Contracts

(NSI News Source Info) NEW YORK - February 23, 2009: Rolls-Royce Group Plc announced two new contracts on Sunday -- a $35 million deal with the U.S. Army and a deal worth up to $400 million with Bell Helicopter -- and said it expects more than 15,000 turbine helicopter deliveries over the next ten years. The deal with the U.S. Army is a contract modification for Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) services covering Model 250-powered (Photo/Image: Bell 407 Helicopter) military helicopter fleet, the British engine maker said. The deal with Bell Helicopter is for the supply of Model 250 engines for Bell 206 and 407 helicopters through 2017. Separately, Rolls-Royce expects "near-term softness followed by a resumption of growth" in the market between 2009 and 2018. It also said the rotorcraft market "will exhibit strong demand by 2013." Rolls-Royce expects overall helicopter deliveries to be valued at about $130 billion for airframes and about $12 billion for engines. The company also expects about 9,000 civil helicopter deliveries, and about 6,000 new military helicopter deliveries, during the ten-year period. Rolls-Royce said its 10-year projections are up slightly from its 2008 projections.

US Army Awards Urgent Order For 3 Bell 407 Helos / Pentagon Contract Announcement

US Army Awards Urgent Order For 3 Bell 407 Helos / Pentagon Contract Announcement

(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded on Feb. 18, 2009, a $7,030,290 commercial firm fixed price contract awarded on urgency for three (3) Bell 407 Standard Configuration Helicopters.

The Bell 407 is a four-bladed, single engine, civil utility helicopter; a derivative of the Bell 206L-3 LongRanger. The 407 uses the four-bladed, soft, in-plane, rigid rotor with composite hub that was developed for the United States Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior instead of the two-bladed, semi-rigid rotor of the 206L-3. The Bell 407 is frequently used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance, law enforcement, electronic news gathering and movie making.

Work is to be performed at Hurst, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2009. Bids were solicited using sole source with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0018).