Buoyed by a successful 2005, which included landing the $3 billion US Army armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH) contract, Bell Helicopter has its sights firmly trained on securing another hugely lucrative deal with the US military in the next three months.
The army’s light utility helicopter (LUH) competition is likely to be decided by May, with Bell vying for the 300-plus aircraft order with Eurocopter and MD Helicopters, offering their EC145 and MD902 Explorer, among others.Having initially offered the Bell 210 as a single-engine solution for the mission, Bell subsequently decided to tender the 412EP, bringing it into line with the competition’s twin-engine aircraft and, importantly, adding instrument flight rules (IFR) capability to its submission.
Bell chief executive Mike Redenbaugh says the competition is moving towards the final stages and he is confident the 412EP will be the aircraft of choice: “We have a 412 in Alabama currently undergoing flight evaluations and we expect a decision some time in the April to May timeframe.
“What we have is an extremely rugged and robust aircraft that can boast more than 3 million hours of operation. The army is clear that it is looking for the most capable and the most reliable solution.”
Meanwhile, Redenbaugh says that the three-year, $210 million system development and demonstration phase for the ARH programme, based on the Bell 407, is proceeding well. “The aircraft is scheduled to fly in March. We’re very active in the assembly stages at our XworX facility in Arlington. We’re also conducting some evaluations of the FLIR.”
Bell’s ARH solution includes the US Army’s Rockwell Collins common avionics architecture system, the uprated Honeywell HTS900 engine and a FLIR Systems Brite Star II sensor with forward-looking infrared.
Bell will break ground on an 11,900m2 (128,000ft2) assembly facility next month and will begin initial deliveries in 2007, ahead of a 2008 initial operational capability date. The army has ordered 368 aircraft to be delivered through 2014.
Ahead of Asian Aerospace, Redenbaugh completed a full tour of Asia towards the end of 2005 and he remains convinced of the vital role that the region has to play in driving growth for Bell. “Asia is the fastest-growing international market segment. There is a rapidly advancing economic base and the region is overcoming some of its infrastructure obstacles.
“We are partnered with KAI on the 429 programme. There is a strong relationship with Fuji Heavy Industries on the BA609 and we have a relationship with Mitsui that goes back more than 50 years, so we understand the importance of Asia to Bell.
“Bell also has 50% of the market share in India and we know that India is interested in the 407 for its border patrol requirements. That’s a very active competition, which could be for up to 200 aircraft.”
Redenbaugh says Bell continues to feel the benefit of its investment in MAPL – modular affordable product line – technologies, 10 of which are now incorporated on the 429 Global Ranger. Development of a propulsive anti-torque system, acoustics research and integrated systems technologies are all core to driving Bell’s development of new products in the 21st century, he says.
Source: Flight Daily News
