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Bell 525 bid for Germany’s Bundespolizei fleet renewel
April 14, 2021 By Naomi Szeben
Image courtesy of Bell Textron Inc. Bell Textron Inc. announced it will team with German suppliers to support Bell’s industrial participation efforts in Germany.
As part of the collaboration, Bell will compete for the upcoming tender for the renewal of the helicopter fleet for the Bundespolizei and will offer the Bell 525.
The industrial collaboration includes:
- Liebherr
- GKN Aerospace
- Solid Aerospace
- PFW
- CEROBEAR GmbH
- Aircraft Philipp, a member of AMAG Group
- Kautex Textron GmbH
The companies represented are the German states of Baden Wurttemberg, Bavaria, North-Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland Palatinate. Additionally, Textron’s established presence in Germany via its Kautex business offers Bell extended reach into the German market.
“Germany is an important market proving ground for rotorcraft innovation, and we are proud to offer the most advanced helicopter in its class for the Bundespolizei,” said Michael Thacker, executive vice president, Innovation and Commercial Business in a statement. “By establishing a strong industrial team within Germany, we are one step closer to ensuring the best offering for the police force’s mission using local expertise.”
The Bell 525 is a fly-by-wire commercial helicopter and was designed with law enforcement and parapublic users in mind.
Additionally, Bell has had a long-standing relationship with the German Armed Forces and German Federal Police. In 1956, the German Armed Forces bought the Bell 47 and in 1963 purchased its first UH-1. The reliable Bell UH-1 has been continuously in service since then.
