Exclusive: US Army Targets 334 MV75 Combat Helicopters by 2040 for Future Multidomain Operations
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According to information published by the Congressional Research Service on June 3, 2025, the U.S. Army plans to procure up to 334 units of the future MV-75 assault helicopter by the end of fiscal year 2040 under the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. These aircraft are intended to equip three light combat aviation brigades, three heavy or theater aviation brigades, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the initial training base, and a dedicated MEDEVAC fleet expected to be operational by 2033. This procurement plan is part of a broader effort to modernize U.S. Army aviation and enhance long-range air mobility capabilities in response to future operational environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The MV-75 is expected to reach a cruise speed of 280 knots (approximately 518 km/h), nearly twice that of the current UH-60 Black Hawk (Picture source: US DoD)
The MV-75, the official designation for the Bell V-280 Valor since May 14, 2025, represents a significant development in U.S. tactical aviation. The designation was announced by Bell Textron via its X account, marking the transition of the V-280 from a demonstrator to a platform scheduled for operational deployment. The V-280 was selected in December 2022 over the Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant X after a competitive evaluation based on speed, range, and modularity. The selection was upheld in April 2023 by the Government Accountability Office following a protest from Sikorsky. In May 2025, the Army confirmed the program’s progression into the Milestone B phase, allowing industrial development to begin.
The CRS report offers the most detailed technical overview to date of the FLRAA program. The MV-75 is expected to reach a cruise speed of 280 knots (approximately 518 km/h), nearly twice that of the current UH-60 Black Hawk. It will be able to transport 12 passengers over 1,700 nautical miles without refueling and operate at altitudes of up to 6,000 feet in temperatures reaching 95°F (35°C). The Bell tiltrotor combines vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with the flight speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.
The report also highlights the mechanical and structural innovations of the V-280 compared to the earlier V-22 Osprey. The MV-75 uses a simplified configuration where only the proprotors tilt forward, while the engines remain fixed. This design reduces the number of moving mechanical parts and eliminates the need for a central transmission system, using a straight wing for greater efficiency. The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce AE1107F engines, with major systems supplied by GE Aerospace (digital architecture and health monitoring), Moog (flight control systems), Safran (landing gear), and Astronics (power distribution).
A key aspect emphasized by the CRS is the integration of a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), mandated by the 2017 and 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts. This open approach enables faster software updates, compatibility with third-party systems, and avoids vendor lock-in for maintenance and upgrades. FLRAA has been designated a pathfinder program for digital engineering within the Army, supporting early-phase interoperability across the Future Vertical Lift ecosystem, including Air Launched Effects (ALE) and Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (FTUAS).
USSOCOM has actively contributed to the technical specifications, requesting a nose-mounted radar, in-flight refueling probe, and other modifications suited to special operations requirements. The MV-75 is expected to perform a range of missions, including assault, intra-theater transport, aeromedical evacuation, and special operations. Its cabin accommodates up to 14 fully equipped troops, with side doors allowing rapid disembarkation under high-intensity conditions.
The development schedule remains ambitious. Following the Milestone B decision, the Army authorized the construction of six prototypes. The first flight is scheduled for 2026, with low-rate initial production starting in 2028 and operational deliveries beginning in 2029. Full-scale production will ramp up through 2040. For fiscal year 2025, Congress approved $1.26 billion in research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) funding. The budget forecast anticipates increased spending through the production phase, with the total program value, including potential foreign military sales, estimated at up to $70 billion.
Strategically, the MV-75 is positioned to reshape the Army’s approach to air assault operations by 2040. Designed from the outset to operate as part of a connected battlespace, it integrates mobility, digital connectivity, and survivability. Its ability to launch missions from beyond contested zones due to extended range and higher speed supports operational effectiveness while minimizing exposure to enemy fire. The aircraft is intended to provide not only transport capability but also enable tactical maneuvering under more demanding conditions.
The Congressional Research Service report concludes that FLRAA is not merely a replacement for the Black Hawk, but a shift in technological, strategic, and doctrinal capabilities. The MV-75 is expected to become a core component of the future Army aviation fleet, optimized for multidomain operations, modular system integration, and enhanced vertical lift performance. Through FLRAA, the Army aims to redefine the standards of 21st-century military air mobility.
{loadposition bannertop}
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According to information published by the Congressional Research Service on June 3, 2025, the U.S. Army plans to procure up to 334 units of the future MV-75 assault helicopter by the end of fiscal year 2040 under the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. These aircraft are intended to equip three light combat aviation brigades, three heavy or theater aviation brigades, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the initial training base, and a dedicated MEDEVAC fleet expected to be operational by 2033. This procurement plan is part of a broader effort to modernize U.S. Army aviation and enhance long-range air mobility capabilities in response to future operational environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The MV-75 is expected to reach a cruise speed of 280 knots (approximately 518 km/h), nearly twice that of the current UH-60 Black Hawk (Picture source: US DoD)
The MV-75, the official designation for the Bell V-280 Valor since May 14, 2025, represents a significant development in U.S. tactical aviation. The designation was announced by Bell Textron via its X account, marking the transition of the V-280 from a demonstrator to a platform scheduled for operational deployment. The V-280 was selected in December 2022 over the Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant X after a competitive evaluation based on speed, range, and modularity. The selection was upheld in April 2023 by the Government Accountability Office following a protest from Sikorsky. In May 2025, the Army confirmed the program’s progression into the Milestone B phase, allowing industrial development to begin.
The CRS report offers the most detailed technical overview to date of the FLRAA program. The MV-75 is expected to reach a cruise speed of 280 knots (approximately 518 km/h), nearly twice that of the current UH-60 Black Hawk. It will be able to transport 12 passengers over 1,700 nautical miles without refueling and operate at altitudes of up to 6,000 feet in temperatures reaching 95°F (35°C). The Bell tiltrotor combines vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with the flight speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.
The report also highlights the mechanical and structural innovations of the V-280 compared to the earlier V-22 Osprey. The MV-75 uses a simplified configuration where only the proprotors tilt forward, while the engines remain fixed. This design reduces the number of moving mechanical parts and eliminates the need for a central transmission system, using a straight wing for greater efficiency. The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce AE1107F engines, with major systems supplied by GE Aerospace (digital architecture and health monitoring), Moog (flight control systems), Safran (landing gear), and Astronics (power distribution).
A key aspect emphasized by the CRS is the integration of a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), mandated by the 2017 and 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts. This open approach enables faster software updates, compatibility with third-party systems, and avoids vendor lock-in for maintenance and upgrades. FLRAA has been designated a pathfinder program for digital engineering within the Army, supporting early-phase interoperability across the Future Vertical Lift ecosystem, including Air Launched Effects (ALE) and Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (FTUAS).
USSOCOM has actively contributed to the technical specifications, requesting a nose-mounted radar, in-flight refueling probe, and other modifications suited to special operations requirements. The MV-75 is expected to perform a range of missions, including assault, intra-theater transport, aeromedical evacuation, and special operations. Its cabin accommodates up to 14 fully equipped troops, with side doors allowing rapid disembarkation under high-intensity conditions.
The development schedule remains ambitious. Following the Milestone B decision, the Army authorized the construction of six prototypes. The first flight is scheduled for 2026, with low-rate initial production starting in 2028 and operational deliveries beginning in 2029. Full-scale production will ramp up through 2040. For fiscal year 2025, Congress approved $1.26 billion in research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) funding. The budget forecast anticipates increased spending through the production phase, with the total program value, including potential foreign military sales, estimated at up to $70 billion.
Strategically, the MV-75 is positioned to reshape the Army’s approach to air assault operations by 2040. Designed from the outset to operate as part of a connected battlespace, it integrates mobility, digital connectivity, and survivability. Its ability to launch missions from beyond contested zones due to extended range and higher speed supports operational effectiveness while minimizing exposure to enemy fire. The aircraft is intended to provide not only transport capability but also enable tactical maneuvering under more demanding conditions.
The Congressional Research Service report concludes that FLRAA is not merely a replacement for the Black Hawk, but a shift in technological, strategic, and doctrinal capabilities. The MV-75 is expected to become a core component of the future Army aviation fleet, optimized for multidomain operations, modular system integration, and enhanced vertical lift performance. Through FLRAA, the Army aims to redefine the standards of 21st-century military air mobility.
