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IBM and Dassault Systemes Announce Partnership with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

IBM and Dassault Systemes today announced an agreement with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to purchase over 100 additional seats of CATIA Solutions, the world's leading computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering software. The installation of these additional seats will be completed by year-end, bringing the total to 300 in North America, confirming CATIA as a primary CAD/CAM/CAE software in use at Bell. The software will be used to design additional models of and enhancements to the Bell BA609 commercial tiltrotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey, the Eagle Eye UAV, the 407, 427 and other helicopters.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. has purchased over 100 additional seats of CATIA Solutions, bringing the total to 300 in North America.
  • The software will be used to design additional models of and enhancements to the Bell BA609 commercial tiltrotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey, the Eagle Eye UAV, the 407, 427 and other helicopters.
  • Bell currently has 70 advance orders from more than 40 customers for the BA609, a civil tiltrotor aircraft capable of carrying nine passengers.
  • The BA609 combines the takeoff, hover and landing qualities of a helicopter with the ability to tilt its engines from vertical to horizontal and fly with the high speed, range and efficiency of a fixed-wing turboprop aircraft.
  • First customer delivery of the BA609 is scheduled for April 2002.
  • CATIA Solutions is the world's leading computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering software.
  • Bell Helicopter has been an IBM customer for over two decades and has used CATIA to design and bring to market innovative aircraft with much higher quality than ever while making significant reductions in product development cost.

Sources:

  • IBM: "IBM and Dassault Systemes, Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Announce Agreement for CATIA Solutions" (Nov. 20, 1998)
  • Dassault Systemes: "CATIA Solutions Chosen by Bell Helicopter for Design of Next-Generation Aircraft"
  • Bell Helicopter: "Bell Helicopter Selects CATIA Solutions for Design of Innovative Aircraft"
  • Business Wire: "IBM and Dassault Systemes, Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Announce Agreement for CATIA Solutions"

Statistics:

  • 100: Additional seats of CATIA Solutions purchased by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
  • 300: Total number of CATIA seats in use at Bell Helicopter in North America.
  • 70: Number of advance orders from more than 40 customers for the BA609.
  • 40: Number of customers with advance orders for the BA609.
  • 2002: Year in which the first customer delivery of the BA609 is scheduled.
  • 9: Number of passengers the BA609 is capable of carrying.
  • 12,000: Number of CATIA-CADAM customers.
  • 8,500: Number of SolidWorks customers.
  • $10 billion: Annual revenue of Textron Inc.
  • 2 decades: Number of years Bell Helicopter has been an IBM customer.

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