The Bell V-280 has beaten Sikorsky to the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.
“We are honored that the U.S. Army has selected the Bell V-280 Valor as its next-generation assault aircraft,” said Scott C. Donnelly, Textron’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We intend to honor that trust by building a truly remarkable and transformational weapon system to meet the Army’s mission requirements. We are excited to play an important role in the future of Army Aviation.”
The Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program is a U.S. Army initiative to develop a new helicopter that will replace the UH-60 Black Hawk. The FLRAA is intended to be a highly-advanced aircraft with increased speed, range, and payload capabilities, as well as improved survivability and mission effectiveness.
The V-280 Valor is a tiltrotor aircraft, which means it has rotors that can tilt from a vertical to a horizontal position, allowing it to take off and land like a helicopter, but fly like a fixed-wing airplane. This design allows the V-280 to have greater speed and range than traditional helicopters, while still retaining the ability to operate in challenging environments.
Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant lost the FLRAA competition. The SB-1 Defiant is a compound helicopter, which means it has two main rotors and a pusher propeller in the back, which provides additional lift and propulsion.
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The Sikorsky Defiant will become a Congressional insert in the budget to ensure both aircraft will serve the Army well.
We have to think about the needs for Delta Force unless they will be using Little Birds and Blackhawks indefinitely. Procurement of the Blackhawk may well be continued indefinitely to meet needs.
Would the V-280 be a replacement for the V-22 and become a new aircraft for the Navy/Coast Guard?
One thing for sure will be the Defiant will continue on as a research aircraft and could be a future addition to the Army with updated systems.
The Sikorsky Defiant will become a Congressional insert in the budget to ensure both aircraft will serve the Army well.
The V-280 will need significant dismantling to fit in a C-5/C-17 while the Defiant will fit in both transports.
We have to think about the needs for Delta Force unless they will be using Little Birds and Blackhawks indefinitely. Procurement of the Blackhawk may well be continued indefinitely to meet needs.
Would the V-280 be a replacement for the V-22 and become a new aircraft for the Navy/Coast Guard?
One thing for sure will be the Defiant will continue on as a research aircraft and could be a future addition to the Army with updated systems.