New direction for BA609

Bell Helicopter has announced that AgustaWestland (AW) has agreed to purchase Bell’s ownership interest in the BA609 tiltrotor programme, a Bell-AW joint venture. The aircraft has been widely touted as a future search and rescue platform. Bell Helicopter, though, will remain the key supplier of engineering services and key components to the programme. The agreement is subject to obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals and does not include the transfer of the V-22 tiltrotor technology.
John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter, said of the move: “Both companies agree it is the best business decision for AW to take ownership of the programme will Bell Helicopter serving as the key engineering and component supplier. This decision will free up research and development resources, allowing Bell Helicopter to increase our investment in the revolutionary V-22, to develop the next generation tiltrotor technologies for US Department of Defense programmes and other applications, as well as increase our investment in our innovative commercial product line.”
As part of its commitment to further evolving tiltrotor technology, Bell-Boeing has acquired the V-22 Osprey for ongoing development. The V-22 has so far completed over 110,000 flight hours in missions including combat search and rescue, and has received the highest safety rating for any tactical tiltrotor aircraft in the Marine Corps.