US Army’s Bell MV-75 FLRAA tiltrotor: What we know about the Black Hawk successor so far
August 20, 2025
The US Army is working to bring its MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) into service by 2031. Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps is also considering the tiltrotor along with other options.
When will the MV-75 (FLRAA) tiltrotor enter service?
While other US Army helicopters have been cancelled after expensive development programs, the US Army is now focused on bringing the MV-75 (formerly V-280 Valor) into service.
The aircraft was designed as the Bell MV-75 in May 2025. Limited user tests are planned for 2027 and 2028, with the type expected to first enter service in 2031.
Looking at funding, Congress appropriated $1.26 billion for the program’s research, development, test, and evaluation in fiscal year 2026.
According to Congress documents, the MV-75, the US Army is expected to request $0.8 billion for the programme’s research and development in fiscal year 2026, another $0.8 billion in fiscal 2027, $0.7 billion in fiscal 2028, and $0.7 billion for fiscal 2029. Procurement outlays will begin in fiscal 2027 with a projected request of $266 million, rising to $439 million in fiscal 2028 and $787 million in fiscal 2029.
Bell is the tiltrotor expert. And with the MV-75 #FLRAA, we’re redefining what’s possible for the @USArmy's future missions.
— Bell (@BellFlight) August 7, 2025
Discover how: https://t.co/YQAZDGS4vN pic.twitter.com/6H4l3LY3uc
The initial prototype will carry the designation YMV-75A. “Y” indicates prototype, “MV” is for multi-mission vertical takeoff, “75” commemorates the Army’s founding year of 1775, and “A” denotes the initial model in the series.
It is conventional for the Army to name helicopters after Native American tribes, and so a name that will continue the Black Hawk, Chinook, and Apache legacy is currently under consideration.
The FLRAA: Twice as far and twice as fast
The US Army initiated the FLRAA program to partially replace and complement its fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium-utility helicopters. In late 2022, the Army selected the tiltrotor Bell Textron V-280 Valor powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
According to the US Army, the MV-75 is being designed to “give combat aviation brigades and special operations aviation units a survivable, long-range, high-speed platform capable of operating in contested environments.”
The Congressional Research Service states, “Army Futures Command Commanding General James E. Rainey has testified that the Army needs FLRAA to have the ability to fly twice as far and twice as fast as previous rotorcraft, a capability he called essential for operations in the Pacific region.”
The MV-75 achieves a cruise speed of 320 mph, a ferry range of 2,400 miles, and a combat range of 580-920 miles. The Black Hawk manages a cruise speed of 175 mph, a ferry range of 1,389 miles, and a combat range of 370 miles.
Possible naval variant of the V-280 Valor
The V-280 was developed for the US Army, although Bell appears to have bigger plans for its new tiltrotor. Bell’s website shows a rendering of US Marine Corps V-280s operating on US Navy amphibious assault ships. The Marine Corps is the primary customer of the CV-22 Osprey, the only tiltrotor in service.
Keith Flail (the Vice President of Advanced Tiltrotor Systems) has previously told The War Zone the V-280 is designed to be “capable of meeting shipboard compatibility requirements.” The aircraft also incorporated some significant lessons that Bell learned while developing the CV-22 Osprey.
The Marines are looking for an aircraft to eventually replace or complement the CV-22. According to The War Zone, they have also looked at the V-280’s smaller uncrewed cousin, the V-247 Vigilant, although that is to meet a separate set of requirements to provide additional strike and other capabilities.
With the MV-75 on track for a 2031 debut, the Army is betting that tiltrotor speed and range will define the next generation of vertical lift, even as rivals like China push ahead with their own designs.
