Bell selects Fort Worth site to build V-280s for the FLRAA programme
The V-280 tiltrotor was selected by the US Army for its FLRAA programme. (Photo: Bell Textron)
The facility will work towards readiness for Low-Rate Initial Production on the V-280 by 2028.
Bell Textron has selected a site for its facility to support production on the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).
The 447,000 sq ft factory will be located in Fort Worth, Texas and will be dedicated to FLRAA component manufacturing, Bell said. Its V-280 Valor aircraft was selected for the FLRAA programme.
Bell plans to begin facility modification and equipment installation to ready the facility for Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) by 2028.
Related Articles
US Army finally moves forward with FLRAA next-generation rotorcraft programme
“The Army is committed to delivering the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft providing the speed, range and endurance needed to conduct effective air assault, MEDEVAC and resupply missions for future Large Scale Combat Operations,” said Brig. Gen. David Phillips, programme executive officer for aviation for the US Army.
“It is great to see our industry partners share in that commitment by investing in state-of-the-art facilities to produce the Army’s first ‘born digital’ aircraft weapon system.”
The US Army FLRAA contract was awarded to Bell in December 2022, while the acquisition decision memorandum – the document that meant that the Army could start to look at options to push ahead with engineering and manufacturing development phase of the FLRAA – was passed in August 2024.
The FLRAA is a programme to develop a replacement for the S-70 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
US Army acquisition executive Douglas R. Bush said previously that it would not act as a like-for-like replacement, but instead would “provide assault and Medevac capabilities for the future Army, adding significantly increased speed, range and endurance”.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Planned Singapore fighter detachment in Guam scrapped]()
Planned Singapore fighter detachment in Guam scrapped
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said the decision to discontinue discussions on the fighter training detachment was mutually agreed with the US.
-
![India fast-tracks indigenous MALE drones as US trade rift stalls big-ticket deals]()
India fast-tracks indigenous MALE drones as US trade rift stalls big-ticket deals
With US tariffs and stalled defence talks slowing imports, India has cleared a $3.4 billion plan for 87 tri‑service MALE UAVs with 60% indigenous content – accelerating self‑reliance as operational lessons from May’s four‑day conflict drive urgency.
-
![Elbit Systems discloses Iron Beam update and work on laser solution for IAF]()
Elbit Systems discloses Iron Beam update and work on laser solution for IAF
In its Q2 earnings call, the company said it has internal targets set for similar double-digit growth for 2026, as it welcomed a 21% boost in 2025 profits so far compared to 2024.
-
![Poland confirms US$3.8 billion F-16V upgrade]()
Poland confirms US$3.8 billion F-16V upgrade
The Mid-Life Upgrade agreement comes as Poland makes significant increases in its defence spend as its plans to increase it to 5% of GDP by 2026.
-
![How unconventional warfare demands are changing the CUAS and drone development landscape]()
How unconventional warfare demands are changing the CUAS and drone development landscape
The use of drones in unconventional ways is accelerating technological advances and countermeasures as military planners try to stay ahead of the drone revolution in military affairs.
-
![Applied Intuition takes aim at major air combat programmes with UK expansion]()
Applied Intuition takes aim at major air combat programmes with UK expansion
The autonomous software company’s new UK subsidiary is the latest in a line of businesses poised to expand and offer its services to the UK Ministry of Defence and industry, as the country invests more in AI and autonomous technology to deliver the next generation of uncrewed systems.
