GKN Plc, a U.K. maker of
helicopters and car parts, said Textron Inc.’s Bell Helicopter
unit will join GKN’s venture with Lockheed Martin Corp. to develop
a helicopter for the U.S. military.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Bell will supply airframes for the US
101 medium-lift helicopter, to be based on the EH 101 model made
by GKN’s AgustaWestland division in the U.K. and Italy. Lockheed
Martin will be the main bidder for any U.S. contracts and the
venture may sell as many as 400 helicopters, GKN said.
“By bringing Bell in, you have manufacturing capacity taken
to 65 percent” of components from the U.S., said Peter Baillie, a
GKN spokesman. GKN set up the venture with Bethesda, Maryland-
based Lockheed Martin as “you cannot sell a major aircraft in the
U.S. unless there’s a U.S. prime contractor.”
Bloomberg News
