Bell Textron said on April 17, 2026, that it has formed a subsidiary in Ukraine and plans to open a dedicated office there as part of a longer-term industrial cooperation effort with the country.
The new entity, Bell Textron Ukraine, will serve as the hub for the company’s activities in Ukraine, Bell said.
The subsidiary will support planned and future work focused on helicopter assembly, maintenance and repair. Bell did not name a permanent office location in its announcement.
The move follows letters of intent Bell signed in October 2025 with Ukrainian counterparts. In those earlier announcements, Bell said it would explore cooperative opportunities with Ukraine, including the potential supply of aircraft. Bell also said the discussions covered industrial cooperation tied to helicopter assembly, maintenance, repair and training.
Jeffrey Schloesser, Bell’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Pursuits, said the move is intended to build practical cooperation with Ukraine.
“This is a meaningful step toward building a practical, mutually beneficial cooperation with the Ukraine defense and industrial base,” Schloesser said. “Bell is committed to establishing a presence in Ukraine to promote collaboration and long-term growth.”
Bell noted that its AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom platforms could support Ukraine’s defense needs and form the basis for a longer-term industrial partnership.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy said Bell had expressed a willingness to develop a production base in Ukraine for helicopter assembly, maintenance and repair, and described plans that included opening a Bell representative office and establishing a final assembly and test center.
The new subsidiary does not by itself guarantee that Bell will build helicopters in Ukraine or deliver aircraft there. But it does show the company moving from exploratory agreements toward a local corporate presence, with assembly, support and sustainment work all possibilities.