Bell rings India for software
US aviation major Bell Helicopter , which has tied up with several Indian laboratories for research in cutting edge technology, is developing futuristic “fancraft” for anti-terrorist operations and emergency medical services in heavily built-up ur...
By PTI |
FORT WORTH (TEXAS): US aviation major Bell Helicopter , which has tied up with several Indian laboratories for research in cutting edge technology, is developing futuristic “fancraft” for anti-terrorist operations and emergency medical services in heavily built-up urban areas.
“The X-HAWK will be capable of flying at street level and between buildings in crowded cities with squads of marines (for counter-terrorist missions),” said Mr Kevin Connell, vice-president of Bell’s “XWORX” division that works on products for the future.
Bell is currently working on the X-HAWK with the Israeli firm Urban Aeronautics, but officials admitted the company was open to collaborating with India to take advantage of its growing competence in the development of advanced computer software and lightweight composite materials that can be used in such aircraft.
Mr Connell said Hindustan Aeronautics , National Aerospace Laboratories and the Indian Institutes of Technology are among the Indian facilities currently collaborating with XWORX on five technology projects.
The X-HAWK , a rotorless vertical take off and landing aircraft, will have a helicopter’s capabilities but without the exposed rotors that make it impossible for helicopters to manoeuvre in urban areas, Mr Connell told a group of visiting Indian journalists.
“We are looking for opportunities to do additional technical work (with Indian entities),” he said, adding that Bangalore-based NAL was working with Bell on a project to establish whether airbags could be used to protect helicopters during a crash.
Textron, Bell’s parent company, has a global technology centre in Bangalore with some 150 employees that does computer modelling for its sister firm Cessna as well as some back-end work, Mr Connell said.
Bell is also keen on expanding its links with HAL, which recently bagged a 5-million dollar order to make rotor blades for the highly successful 206 model helicopter. If Bell bags a contract to sell 197 helicopters to the Indian army, technology will be transferred to HAL to build 137 of the aircraft, officials said.
“We expect to double business in five years and manufacturing capacity is always an issue. So it would be a smart thing to partner with firms like HAL to gain additional capacity,” said Mr Jay Ortiz, Bell’s campaign director for global military sales.
“HAL can build components like rotors and gear-boxes cheaper than we can.” Mr Bob Fitzpatrick, Bell’s senior vice-president for business development , said with India’s market for helicopters expected to grow to $4.3 billion in the next two decades, his company was taking steps to ramp up its presence in the country.
“The X-HAWK will be capable of flying at street level and between buildings in crowded cities with squads of marines (for counter-terrorist missions),” said Mr Kevin Connell, vice-president of Bell’s “XWORX” division that works on products for the future.
Bell is currently working on the X-HAWK with the Israeli firm Urban Aeronautics, but officials admitted the company was open to collaborating with India to take advantage of its growing competence in the development of advanced computer software and lightweight composite materials that can be used in such aircraft.
Mr Connell said Hindustan Aeronautics , National Aerospace Laboratories and the Indian Institutes of Technology are among the Indian facilities currently collaborating with XWORX on five technology projects.
The X-HAWK , a rotorless vertical take off and landing aircraft, will have a helicopter’s capabilities but without the exposed rotors that make it impossible for helicopters to manoeuvre in urban areas, Mr Connell told a group of visiting Indian journalists.
“We are looking for opportunities to do additional technical work (with Indian entities),” he said, adding that Bangalore-based NAL was working with Bell on a project to establish whether airbags could be used to protect helicopters during a crash.
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Textron, Bell’s parent company, has a global technology centre in Bangalore with some 150 employees that does computer modelling for its sister firm Cessna as well as some back-end work, Mr Connell said.
Bell is also keen on expanding its links with HAL, which recently bagged a 5-million dollar order to make rotor blades for the highly successful 206 model helicopter. If Bell bags a contract to sell 197 helicopters to the Indian army, technology will be transferred to HAL to build 137 of the aircraft, officials said.
“We expect to double business in five years and manufacturing capacity is always an issue. So it would be a smart thing to partner with firms like HAL to gain additional capacity,” said Mr Jay Ortiz, Bell’s campaign director for global military sales.
“HAL can build components like rotors and gear-boxes cheaper than we can.” Mr Bob Fitzpatrick, Bell’s senior vice-president for business development , said with India’s market for helicopters expected to grow to $4.3 billion in the next two decades, his company was taking steps to ramp up its presence in the country.
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