Hindustan Aeronautics ties up with Bell Helicopter

Mumbai: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has entered into a memorandum of association (MoU) with Bell Helicopter, to explore areas of cooperation for supply of airframe sub-assemblies and product support in mutually beneficial projects.

The MoU was signed by HAL chairman Ashok K Baweja and Bell Helicopter CEO Michael 'Red' Redenbaugh.

"This partnership would provide long-term growth opportunities for HAL," Baweja said, adding, that HAL was looking forward to take on new challenges in all contemporary helicopter programmes.

"Bell Helicopter appreciates this opportunity to explore additional manufacturing projects with HAL. We have had a relationship with HAL for sometime and currently they are producing tail rotor blades for our 206 aircraft," said Redenbaugh.

Texas-based Bell Helicopter Textron manufactures military helicopter and tiltrotor products in the United States (primarily in and around Fort Worth as well as in Amarillo) and commercial rotorcraft products in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.

Bell, formerly produced airplanes as Bell Aircraft Corporation, including the famous Bell X-1, which, piloted by Chuck Yeager, was the first aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight.