Bell contracts for helicopter electronics

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Bell Helicopter has contracted LaBarge Inc. to support a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter deal with the production of electronic assemblies.

The $3.2 million follow-on contract is part of the Marine Corps H-1 helicopter upgrade program. Under the deal, St. Louis-based LaBarge will continue to produce electronic assemblies to support the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopter modernization initiative.

LaBarge, who has worked on the H-1 upgrade program since 2004, will provide as many as 280 box-level electronic assemblies. Officials say production work will take place at the company's Arkansas facility "beginning in January 2009 and continuing through July 2010," the release said.

The UH-1Y Venom helicopter is part of a Marine Corps effort to replace the aging UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters that have been in operation since the 1970s.