Fort Worth, TX - October 17, 2013 - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today that GKN Aerospace will design, develop and manufacture the V-tail aerostructure and ruddervators for the Bell V-280 Valor™.
"We are pleased to announce GKN Aerospace, a world leader in composite aerostructures, is aligning their interests and resources to join Team Valor and will provide the Bell V-280's signature V-tail," said John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter. "GKN Aerospace joins our growing team of aerospace leaders to ensure the highest levels of maturity and technical readiness are delivered to the U.S. Army for their future vertical lift missions."
Kevin Cummings, CEO, GKN Aerospace North America explains, "We are proud to play such an important role in the development of the V-280 Valor airframe that represents the next generation in vertical lift technology. We look forward to working alongside Bell Helicopter, bringing our expertise across metal and composite design and manufacture to bear to maximize the long-term operational effectiveness and reliability of this aircraft in service for the US Army."
Team Valor is comprised of leading aerospace companies, bringing the best engineering resources, industrial capabilities, and critical thinking in the industry to meet the Army's needs. Additional team members will be announced in the coming weeks.
The transformational features of Bell Helicopter's third generation tiltrotor represent the most operationally effective aircraft for the U.S. Army's Future Vertical Lift requirements. With increased maintainability and component and systems reliability, the Bell V-280 is designed to deliver the best value in procurement, operations and support, and force structure. With more than twice the speed and range, the Bell V-280 Valor will offer commanders a combat maneuver platform with unmatched operational agility to self-deploy and perform a multitude of vertical lift missions unachievable with current aircraft
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.
About GKN
GKN plc is a global engineering group. It has four divisions; GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy, GKN Aerospace and GKN Land Systems, which operate in the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. Approximately 48,000 people work in GKN companies and joint ventures in more than 30 countries. GKN is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN) and recorded sales of GBP6.9 billion in the year to 31 December 2012.
GKN Aerospace is a global first tier supplier of airframe structures, engine components, transparencies and fuel/flotation systems, with sales of GBP1.8bn in 2012 and a global workforce approaching 12,000. It has a significant participation on all major aircraft programmes today and a broad customer base spanning commercial, military, business aerospace and space markets. The company's extensive engineering capability and clear focus on targeted innovation has created technological and manufacturing leads in each of its areas of expertise.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risk that the U.S. Army will not choose the Bell V-280 for its Future Vertical Lift program; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses or delays in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; changes in worldwide economic or political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates or foreign exchange rates; our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; the U.S. Government's ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government's convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; and performance issues with key suppliers, subcontractors or business partners.
Contact
Bell Helicopter
Susan Gordon
817-280-3100
mediarelations@bh.com
GKN Aerospace
Sandra Fearon
+44 (0) 1983 283649 (o)
+44 (0) 7767 334804 (c)
sandra.fearon@gknaerospace.com
Online Media Kit | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube