Bell, the US helicopter maker, has started erecting new facilities in Grande Prairie after its V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft secured the top US Army contract to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk. The news was reported by Stars and Stripes, underscoring Bell’s continued expansion as it positions to ramp up production to meet Army demand.
According to regulatory filings, Bell has registered with Texas licensing authorities to construct a new building spanning 3.5 thousand square feet with an estimated cost of $20 million. The project timetable shows a completion date set for March 30, 2024, suggesting rapid progress for a program of this scale. The filings indicate the project is moving forward even as Congress reviews the legality of the bidding process that led to Bell’s selection over its main rival, Sikorsky, which did not win the contract. The application deadline for the permitting process is set for April 7.
Earlier disclosures noted that the US State Department approved a sale of 40 Black Hawk helicopters to Australia valued at about $1.95 billion. The Pentagon described the sale as essential to helping an ally “develop and maintain a strong self-defense readiness capability,” a stance echoed in subsequent discussions about alliance interoperability and force readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Negotiations around purchasing American helicopters began in December 2021, when Australia announced it would retire its MRH 90 Taipan fleet up to 15 years ahead of schedule. The broader package for Australia includes not only helicopters but also engines, radio equipment, and encryption devices, highlighting a comprehensive approach to modernizing the country’s military aviation fleet. The arrangement reflects ongoing defense procurement trends in North America and allied nations, emphasizing domestic production momentum alongside international cooperation.
The agreement with Australia aligns with a broader strategy to bolster allied capacity through advanced aircraft, mission-critical systems, and secure communications, ensuring that partners can operate in concert with American hardware and software ecosystems. This strategic alignment supports continued collaboration on interoperability standards and pilot training programs, reinforcing the shared defense posture across allied nations.