Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, has announced an estimated $300 million, firm-fixed-price, fixed-price incentive, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract from the Department of Navy. This base plus three option years contract provides the Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) upgrades on up to 49 U.S. Marine Corp AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom aircraft.

Known as "Phase 3.0," the contract covers SPINE upgrades to 49 aircraft (21 UH-1Y, 28 AH-1Z) with work to be performed at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center starting mid-2027 with first deliveries of the upgraded H-1 units in 2028.