New Plan for Bell H-1 Adds Testing

A new plan for the U.S. Defense Department’s Bell H-1 program will add testing but not change the purchase plans, according to the Dow Jones Newswires.  The U.S. Marine Corps program manager said the restructuring plan calls for Bell to fix the technical problems but those changes will not affect the fielding schedule. The new plan puts Bell on track for two upcoming production contracts. By the end of fiscal year 2007, the Marines plan to purchase 11 more aircraft.  Over time the Marines plan to buy 280 aircraft that come in two versions, a utility helicopter, the UH-1Y scheduled for deployment in 2009 and an attack helicopter, the AH-1Z. The AH-1Z has encountered technical problems and is not scheduled for deployment until 2011. The Navy has requested $522 million for fiscal year 2008 for 20 more helicopters, spare parts and related gear. For related news