The American company Bell Textron, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of helicopter equipment, has officially registered a subsidiary in Ukraine. It is currently studying the prospects for deploying local defense production.
The American company Bell Textron, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of helicopter equipment, has officially registered a subsidiary in Ukraine. It is currently studying the prospects for deploying local defense production.
This was stated by Jeffrey Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Strategic Projects at Bell Textron, in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.
The idea of opening a Ukrainian office arose after the first International Defense Industries Forum in Kyiv. According to Schlosser, a series of subsequent meetings and intergovernmental negotiations confirmed the seriousness of the Ukrainian side’s intentions, which prompted the American manufacturer to register an official presence.
The governments of Ukraine and the United States are currently engaged in active dialogue and have already exchanged letters of intent. The equipment is planned to be supplied through the standard US intergovernmental defense procurement procedure.
«We are a provider of capabilities, but we are ready to explore the potential of industrial production in Ukraine,» said Jeffrey Schlosser.
At the same time, the company representative emphasized that current financial investments in the Ukrainian market remain modest. The launch of larger operations requires clear security and legal guarantees from both states.
«We want to make sure we get clear commitments from the Ukrainian and US governments before increasing our investments. Without that, it would be unwise for a large aerospace company to establish a presence and start large-scale operations in a location where it could become a target,» said Bell Textron Vice President.
Recall that at the end of April, the company officially announced the creation of Bell Textron Ukraine and its intention to open a local office, which should become a hub for helicopter maintenance, repair, and assembly.
