Fort Worth-based Bell Textron Inc. \u2014 now 75 years old \u2014 is ramping up production of the U.S. Army\u2019s MV-75 Cheyenne II aircraft.<\/p>\n
Last month, the defense contractor celebrated the grand opening of its Wichita, Kansas, assembly center for the aircraft\u2019s fuselage \u2014 part of an accelerated initiative directed by Army leaders for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA. The vertical-lift, next-generation aircraft will be used for tactical assault and other missions.<\/p>\n
Company officials said the Kansas facility complements Bell\u2019s Advanced Composite Center in Fort Worth and a final assembly complex in Amarillo.<\/p>\n
Danny Maldonado, president and CEO of Bell, said the company is dedicated to investing in its manufacturing facilities.<\/p>\n
“As Bell moves through the assembly of the MV-75 test aircraft and into accelerated production, we are committed to investing in advanced manufacturing to ensure we deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost to our customer,\u201d Maldonado said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Bell is investing $632 million<\/a> into a north Fort Worth factory for the MV-75 Cheyenne aircraft. A 450,000-square-foot building at 15100 N. Beach St. is being remodeled and expanded. The project is expected to be completed in early 2027, according to a filing<\/a> with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Kansas, the crew of about 80 workers is expected to grow to about 300 as production increases, officials said. Parts made at the plant will be sent to Bell\u2019s Texas facilities.<\/p>\n Bell\u2019s Wichita plant strengthens the state\u2019s legacy in producing aircraft for decades, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis facility represents a new chapter of Army aviation and of Bell\u2019s investment into Kansas,\u201d Moran said in a statement. \u201cI have long supported this critical program and the Army\u2019s efforts to accelerate its production. I am pleased that Bell Textron has chosen Kansas for this investment, a decision that will strengthen our national security while expanding opportunities for Wichita\u2019s highly skilled workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n The aircraft\u2019s official name honors the heritage of the Cheyenne Tribes, including the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma, Army officials said. The MV-75\u2019s nickname \u2014 \u201ctwice as far, twice as fast\u201d \u2014 comes from the aircraft\u2019s tactical maneuvering over long distances, Army officials said.<\/p>\n Bell is expected to make its first delivery of the MV-75 Cheyenne in the summer, the officials said.<\/p>\n Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n