Bell pushes on with V-280
V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft. (Photo: Bell Textron)
Team Valor is applying lessons learned from a multiyear flight-test programme and Soldier Touchpoint events, in preparation for an RfP from the US Army for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
Bell Textron confirmed on 24 June that it is advancing the V-280 Valor programme to meet Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) requirements for the US Army.
Having demonstrated the technical and operational characteristics of the tiltrotor aircraft, Bell and its Team Valor partners ‘are applying data-driven optimisations to deliver a reliable and sustainable long-range assault weapon system’ for the imminent programme of record competition, the company added.
The US Army is expected to release an RfP in Q3 2021. Team Valor faces competition from Boeing and Sikorsky, which are jointly offering the coaxial Defiant X.
Both teams received Competitive Design and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) Phase 2 awards on 31 March.
Bell stated that it is using CD&RR Phase 2 to provide initial preliminary designs for major subsystems and the conceptual weapons system, ‘based on data-proven performance that ensures transformational capabilities will be delivered in line with the Army’s schedule’.
A recently concluded three-year flight-test programme for the V-280 (including 15 sorties flown by US Army experimental test pilots) highlighted the aircraft’s low-speed agility, long-range cruise, 305kt high-speed flights and ‘rapid mission systems integration’, Bell claimed.
Additionally, Bell hosted Soldier Touchpoint events enabling critical feedback from pilots, mechanics, and infantry squads.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Baykar’s Akinci: Local participation and export freedom drive $4.63 billion success story]()
Baykar’s Akinci: Local participation and export freedom drive $4.63 billion success story
The success of the Akinci drone stems from Turkey’s push for domestically produced components – which has led to fewer export restrictions – and from manufacturer Baykar’s willingness to coproduce the drone with customers’ domestic industries.
-
![Lithuania air focus: Majority of $235.98 million drone investment to be spent before 2030]()
Lithuania air focus: Majority of $235.98 million drone investment to be spent before 2030
Lithuania has committed significant funding towards expanding its UAV capabilities, with more than $54 million already spent and substantial additional investment planned through to 2029. Alongside domestic procurement, the country has also acquired various drones to support Ukraine.
-
![“A dominant force”: empowering Europe’s airborne ISR in a new era]()
“A dominant force”: empowering Europe’s airborne ISR in a new era
European militaries face a new security landscape, with the proliferation of drones, theatre ballistic missiles and other threats boosting requirements for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and related systems. For L3Harris, missionised business jets are central to meeting these needs, providing capability and flexibility in a cost-effective package.
-
![Japan’s Terra Drone expands Ukrainian ties to break into global defence market]()
Japan’s Terra Drone expands Ukrainian ties to break into global defence market
Following its investment into WinnyLab, Terra Drone unveiled a new long-range fixed-wing addition to its interceptor drone portfolio as it seeks to bring combat-proven technology back to Japan and expand into global export markets.
-
![April air forces review: Next-gen platform push ties in with fleet modernisation plans]()
April air forces review: Next-gen platform push ties in with fleet modernisation plans
Countries releasing their spending budgets over the past month have placed an emphasis on advancing next-generation crewed programmes as well as upgrades and expansion plans for air combat and aerial refuelling capabilities.
-
![What opportunities remain for European airborne early warning requirements?]()
What opportunities remain for European airborne early warning requirements?
With a pending NATO AWACS replacement on the horizon, the demand and market opportunities for airborne early warning aircraft remain strong as countries look to bolster their capabilities, with industry eyeing gaps in the market.
