Bell V-280 Valor Selected as the U.S. Army’s Next-Gen Long-Range Assault Solution

Textron Inc proclaimed today that Bell Textron Inc., a division of Textron, has secured the development contract for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) initiative. This contract is grounded in Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor, which was innovatively developed and tested as part of the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR TD) program that commenced in 2013. The V-280 has successfully navigated through design, production, and over three years of intensive flight testing, yielding comprehensive data that affirms the technical and operational benefits of the aircraft for long-range assault missions.

“It is a privilege that the U.S. Army has chosen the Bell V-280 Valor as its next-generation assault aircraft,” remarked Scott C. Donnelly, Textron’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We aim to honor that confidence by crafting an extraordinary and transformative weapon system designed to fulfill the Army’s operational requirements. We are thrilled to contribute significantly to the future of Army Aviation.”

“This moment marks an exhilarating period for the U.S. Army, Bell, and Team Valor as we enhance the Army’s aviation capabilities for years to come,” stated Mitch Snyder, president and CEO of Bell. “Bell has a rich history of supporting Army Aviation, and we are prepared to equip Soldiers with the speed and range necessary to succeed, utilizing the most advanced, reliable, and economical high-performance long-range assault weapon system globally.”

This contract amplifies a decade of development regarding the V-280 Valor, showcasing its progression through design, production, and thorough testing to confirm that this aircraft will meet the FLRAA program specifications. Bell, along with its industry collaborators, has meticulously validated the V-280 aircraft and their modular open systems methodology in conjunction with the Army.

“Over the past few years, the Bell team has proven the remarkable operational capabilities, digital thread synergies, and cost-effectiveness improvements that the V-280 offers,” conveyed Keith Flail, executive vice president, Advanced Vertical Lift Systems at Bell. “Bell is prepared, with our premier manufacturing plants, to leverage our nearly seventy years of tiltrotor expertise to provide a cutting-edge FLRAA fleet for the Army.”

The foundational contract elaborates on the weapon system design, sustainment, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, systems integration, flight-testing, and airworthiness certification.

This contract enhances Bell’s legacy of over 85 years, delivering more than 30,000 trusted vertical lift products to both military and commercial clients across the U.S. and worldwide.