Bell Debuts Bell 407M Aircraft at Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit

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At this year’s Army Aviation Association of America Mission Solutions Summit, Bell publicly unveiled the 407M special mission aircraft. The 407M is part of Bell's Special Mission Aircraft initiative to offer multi-mission civil helicopters modified for military use. These Special Mission Aircraft are tailored to countries that need an efficient and effective aviation platform to accomplish their defensive missions.

"We are thrilled to be able to showcase the 407M in a configuration that can be an optimal solution for many," said Brian Vollmer, special mission aircraft program manager. "Many of the military operating environments around the world require an option in-between pure military and commercial platforms, and special mission aircraft can support that flexibility."

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Bell is designating Special Mission Aircraft as "M" configurations starting with the 407 and is expanding this offering to other civil aircraft, including the 412, 429, and 505. Leveraging the latest commercial avionics and flexible mission systems, these aircraft can be equipped with a range of armaments to carry out armed reconnaissance, special operations, light-attack, anti-piracy and other missions. Aircraft can also be equipped to support life-saving missions like medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, and humanitarian aid disaster relief. The various levels of capability are available through the foreign military sales program or direct commercial sales, depending on country requirements.

"When you look at the market of fielded systems and how current sanctions may limit parts availability, there is a need for affected countries to act quickly to avoid a capability gap when parts are no longer available for their existing platforms," added Vollmer.

The 407M on display is set up in a six-station configuration and features an interactive display highlighting various specifications and capabilities. The 407M builds on a proven legacy with the Bell OH-58, which logged more than 750,000 combat flight hours and the 407 airframe that has more than 6 million flight hours.

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For onsite media inquiries, please contact Jay Hernandez.

Jay Hernandez

Military: Domestic and Foreign Military Sales
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About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

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, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

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