Flight Internatiional online news 12:00 GMT: Bell Helicopter has been awarded a $2.2 billion contract by the US Army to build its next generation Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH).

The ARH will replace the Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter also produced by Bell.

The company beat off competition from Boeing for the contract, which calls for Bell to build 368 aircraft for delivery during 2006 through
2013.

Bell is teamed with a number of partners to supply the aircraft's mission equipment package, including Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins,
FLIR Systems, L-3, Flight Safety and Computer Sciences.

A militarised version of the Bell 407 single engine light helicopter, the ARH offers the US Army the flexibility to carry out armed
reconnaissance, light attack, troop insertion, and special operations missions with a single aircraft. 

Source: Flight International