At a ceremony in Washington, Bell Textron signed key agreements with Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Ecology, and Agriculture, and UkraineInvest. The deal aims to explore industrial cooperation as part of a possible purchase of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. Under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) programme, Bell would work with the U.S. Government to supply these aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, boosting their air combat capability.
Jeffrey Schloesser, Senior Vice President for Strategic Pursuits at Bell, called the agreement an important step. “We are proud to announce this agreement, and the potential to supply these incredible aircraft to Ukraine,” he said. “This initiative has been in development for some time, and we look forward to bringing it to completion.”
Bell Textron is a global leader in both commercial and military aviation. Its H-1 family—the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom—represents two of its most advanced military platforms. The aircraft are designed to operate seamlessly together, sharing 85% of their components. This high level of commonality reduces maintenance needs and operating costs while improving mission flexibility.
According to Schloesser, the H-1 helicopters could play a critical role in strengthening Ukraine’s defence forces. “We are confident that H-1s can play a pivotal role in further building defence capabilities in Ukraine, providing a much-needed upgrade while strengthening current Ukrainian air support,” he said.
If finalised, the cooperation would mark a major milestone in U.S.-Ukrainian defence collaboration. It also reflects Bell Textron’s growing commitment to supporting international partners through advanced, interoperable systems designed for modern combat environments. The agreement underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to modernise its military aviation fleet amid continued security challenges.
