In May, the United States Army announced that the Bell MV-75, formerly known as the Bell Textron V-280 Valor, was the service’s winning selection from the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. As the U.S. Army replaces the aging UH/HH-60 Black Hawks with the MV-75s, it will mark the service’s largest helicopter procurement in more than four decades.
The Valor contract is reportedly worth an initial $1.7 billion, which could grow to as much as $80 billion as the aging choppers are replaced. The Army has sought to see the MV-75 enter service in 2030.
The famed 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was slated to become the initial unit to operate the revolutionary aircraft. The division’s attached aviation unit, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), currently operates approximately 53 Black Hawk helicopters in various models. The 5th and 6th battalions will likely be the first to field the MV-75.
The FLRAA Winner
The U.S. Army’s FLRAA program had called for a helicopter that could travel roughly 2,440 nautical miles (2,810 miles) without refueling, yet still be agile enough to maneuver troops into dangerous hot spots around the globe.
Following extensive trials, the Bell V-280 Valor beat out the SB-1 Defiant-X, which was jointly designed and developed by Sikorsky and Boeing. The competing concepts were significantly different. The SB-1 Defiant is a compound helicopter with rigid coaxial rotors, while the Valor is a tiltrotor aircraft, meaning it can take off and land like a helicopter but then fly like an airplane.
That combination was seen to offer speed, range, and greater flexibility, making it well-suited for operations in the Pacific. It could be employed in an “island hopping” campaign against an adversary such as China.
Under the current timeline, the MV-75 could make its maiden flight sometime in 2026. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) will follow in 2028, and the aircraft is on track to enter service two years later. It would then transition to full-rate production (FRP).
Not an Osprey
At a glance, it would be easy to see the MV-75 as a smaller version of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, the controversial tiltrotor now in service with the United States Air Force, U.S. Navy, and United States Marine Corps. Though the Valor is smaller, that was by design as it was developed with infantry support in mind. In contrast, the Osprey serves as a medium/heavy assault support and utility aircraft.
“Future battlefields require expanded maneuver, the ability to sustain and provide command and control across vast distances, and of course, evacuate our wounded. All of these apply to both conventional and Special Operations Forces. With roughly twice the range and twice the speed, FLRAA brings unmatched combat capability to the joint force,” U.S. Army Aviation Branch chief Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry explained last August when the FLRAA reached its Milestone B, where the service received detailed aircraft designs and Bell Textron was given the green light to build six prototype aircraft.
A Multi-Mission Warbird
When it enters service, the MV-75 will offer multi-mission capabilities.
Its advanced range, coupled with its ability to take off and land like a helicopter, enables it to reach remote areas that would otherwise require a fixed-wing aircraft to reach a staging ground, where men and materiel are transferred to Black Hawks or other utility choppers.
In addition to serving as a long-range assault aircraft, it can also provide MEDEVAC in wartime, while the V-280 Valor was further designed to serve in utility and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief roles.
Key Design Features
The current design calls for the Bell MV-75 Valor to be powered by two Rolls-Royce AE 1107F turboshaft engines, which are part of the AE family of powerplants that have more than 85 million flight hours, powering numerous U.S. military aircraft, including the C-130J transport. Each of the AE 1107C engines produces 7,000 shaft horsepower (shp). A version of that engine also powers the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, but there are notable differences between the two aircraft. The MV-75’s engines remain fixed while the rotors and drive shafts tilt, unlike the Osprey, where the engines rotate in wingtip nacelles.
Bell Textron initially equipped its first MV-75 prototype with the General Electric T64, a turboshaft engine used for decades in early-model Sikorsky H-53 heavy-lift helicopters. However, in October 2021, a decision was made to switch to the Rolls-Royce engine. At the time, Bell and Rolls-Royce North America executives said that utilizing a version of the Osprey engine would lower the long-term maintenance costs for the Army’s tiltrotor.
The engines further power the three-bladed tiltrotors. The prop rotors have a diameter of 35 feet (10.7 meters), which the manufacturers suggest offers a smooth and efficient takeoff. In the event of an engine failure, which aviation experts say would be unlikely, both propellers could remain operational by a single shaft that runs through the aircraft’s straight wings.
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The wings of the MV-75 are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite, which has rigidity comparable to or even exceeding that of metal while offering a high level of stiffness that is resistant to deformation under stress. The wings are also lighter and more cost-effective than the metal chassis of the Black Hawk helicopter. The propeller blades, developed by Eagle Technologies, are also made of all-carbon fiber composite materials.
In addition, the development of the MV-75 Valor sought to avoid some of the issues that have plagued the Osprey, including those that have resulted in deadly accidents. The aforementioned fixed engines promise to reduce maintenance needs, while the Valor is also outfitted with an improved gearbox and more robust structural components.
Capabilities of the MV-75
The current specs state that the aircraft has ferry range of 2,100 nautical miles (2,400 miles, 3,900 km) and a combat range of 500 to 800 NM (589 to 920 miles, 930 to 1,480 km). The aircraft can reach a cruising speed of 280 knots (320 mph, 520 km/h).
The lighter weight means that while the MV-75 has similar cabin dimensions to the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, it can carry more cargo or personnel. The Valor’s V-tail design and ruddervators also provide a higher level of maneuverability than other tiltrotor aircraft. In total, the tiltrotor can carry up to 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) via its dual hooks, exceeding the maximum lift capacity of the Black Hawk by around 1,000 pounds.
The MV-75 Valor was also designed to be compact enough to operate in a variety of austere environments. It is approximately 50.5 feet (15.4 meters) in length, 81.79 feet (24.93 meters) in width, and 23 feet (seven meters) high, and it weighs just over 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg).
Its crew of four includes two pilots and two gunners, while it can transport up to 14 additional personnel. The estimated cost of the MV-75 is reported to be $43 million per aircraft.
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