Posted on 07/29/2005 4:23:04 PM PDT by Righty_McRight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Textron's (NYSE:TXT - news) Bell Helicopter unit was chosen on Friday by the U.S. Army to build 368 new armed reconnaissance helicopters in a contract that the company valued at $2.2 billion.
The new helicopters would replace the Army's OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, that were also produced by Bell.
Bell beat out a rival team led by Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) for the work that will start with an initial development contract worth $210.7 million.
Bell offered the Army a military version of its 407 helicopter, an upgraded version of the OH-58 family that has a more powerful engine, new avionics and advanced weapons systems. Bell's partners include Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT - news), Rockwell Collins Inc. (NYSE:COL - news) and FLIR Systems (Nasdaq:FLIR - news).
Textron said Bell would deliver the new aircraft through 2013.
The competition for the armed scout helicopter comes after the Army in 2004 canceled the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program, which was being built by Boeing and United Technologies Corp.'s (NYSE:UTX - news) Sikorsky Aircraft division.
Textron's shares closed down 94 cents ahead of the announcement at $74.17 a share on the New York Stock Exchange. Boeing's shares closed up 1 cent at $66.01 on the NYSE.
Ping.
you know the rules...we need pictures of military hardware.
That is beautiful. Thanks for the pic.
You are welcome. Bell's website has a video on the helo along with some specs in an Acrobat file.
FReegards,
K4
Again, neat shot! Thanks!
Da nada! Glad that I could be of service.
It doesn't seem to have a tail rotor. Is it using jets to stabilize the torque from the rotors? Damaged rotors have been a huge problem in war zones, IIRC.
are the propellers on correct?
It has a tail rotor, but it doesn't show well in the pic. It is based on the Model 407.
It has a four-blade rotor. The angle of you view plus the natural droop of the rotors just makes it look odd to the uninitiated.
Looks like my job's secure for another decade. Kinda figured Bell would get it.
It is strikingly beautiful. I have a couple thousand dollars in my reserve account...do you think I could get one for myself? Uh, might be a little more, huh?
Dosen't look too mean to me. The cobra looks mean. Maby looks aren't every thing.
The Cobra is an attack helo, this is an armed recce helo.
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