WASHINGTON – Bell Helicopter on Monday unveiled a full-scale model of its V-280 Valor — the next generation in tiltrotor aircraft — at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting here.
Slightly larger than the UH-60 Black Hawk, the V-280 is a third-generation tiltrotor aircraft designed for the Joint Multi-Role demonstrator and Future Vertical Lift programs.
Bell, which produced the V-22 Osprey, took the lessons learned from that aircraft's more than 250,000 flying hours to design the V-280, said Keith Flail, program director for Future Vertical Lift Military Programs at Bell.
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The V-280 is designed to go twice as far and fast as today's helicopters, Flail said.
"The greatness of tiltrotor aircraft, with the performance of a helicopter and a plane" can change the way a commander covers and manages his battle space, he said.
It means "operational productivity" will increase for commanders and troops on the ground, Flail said.
"The commander can cover a lot more battle space," he said.
The V-280's ability to fly faster also will make it easier to move troops, medically evacuate the wounded and resupply units across the battlefield, Flail said.
The V-280 can cruise at 280 knots with a combat range of 500 to 800 nautical miles, according to Bell's website.
In its current configuration, the V-280 can carry a crew of four plus 14 troops, and has two six-foot-wide side doors for quick entry and exit.
It also has a fixed engine configuration, meaning only the propellers rotate, and straight fixed wings, for simplicity of design and cost effectiveness, Flail said.
"It's all about applying technology through the lens of affordability," he said.
The company is in the detailed design phase of the V-280's development, with plans to build the aircraft beginning in 2015 and have it ready for tests and flight in September 2017, he said.
The Army-led Joint Multi-Role demonstrator program is the science and technology precursor to the Defense Department's Future Vertical Lift program, according to Bell's website. The program is expected to replace 2,000 to 4,000 medium-class utility and attack helicopters.
Bell was selected to build and fly the V-280 Valor as part of the demonstration program, according to Bell.
Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.
