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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowRolls-Royce PLC’s new 10-year, $400 million agreement to produce helicopter engines brings another surge of business to the company’s Indianapolis manufacturing plant.
Rolls-Royce said today it will supply Fort Worth, Texas-based Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. with Model 250 engines for Bell 206 and 407 helicopters for most of the next decade.
It was the second major deal to have an impact on Rolls-Royce’s local operations this year.
The company announced late last month that it won a multiyear contract to develop fuel-efficient turbine engines for the U.S. Air Force – a deal that could be worth as much as $185 million.
The work from both deals will be handled by the British aerospace and defense contractor’s 4,300-employee Indianapolis operation.
Previously known as Allison Advanced Development Co., the Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc. plant on Tibbs Avenue is the second-largest manufacturing plant in Indianapolis.
Rolls-Royce’s business relationship with Bell Helicopter started in 1961.
“We have delivered more than 18,000 Model 250 engines for use on single and twin-engine helicopters to Bell over the last decades,” said Ken Roberts, president of Rolls-Royce Helicopter Engines, in a prepared statement. “During those years, Bell and Rolls-Royce have worked together to keep Model 250-powered aircraft at the forefront of the helicopter industry through continued investment and the introduction of new technology.
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