North Texas’ Bell Tabbed to Build Blackhawk Replacement

(WBAP/KLIF) — The U.S. Army has chosen a North Texas company to replace the Blackhawk helicopter.

Bell V-280 Valor – Photo from Bell

Bell-Textron incorporated was awarded a $1.3 billion contract to build the new V-280 Valor, an advanced tilt-rotor, assault helicopter that will phase out the Apache and Blackhawk choppers by 2030.

Representative Kay Granger is republican leader of the House Appropriations Committee and said, “Bell Textron has once again proved its superiority in the important role they play in the defense of our nation…we are honored to have them headquartered in Fort Worth.”

Bell V-280 Valor

Granger also said she was thrilled with the news saying, “the Army’s announcement marks yet another win for the long history of aerospace expertise in North Texas”. T Bell V-280 Valor was selected over the Lockheed-Boeing Defiant-X coaxial lift, compound rotor helicopter. According to congressional estimates, the full contract could potentially be worth $90 billion.

Development of the Bell V-280 is expected to take a year and a half.

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