Bell Helicopter announced that the US Army has awarded a technology investment agreement (TIA) for the joint multi-role (JMR) technology demonstrator (TD) programme to Bell Helicopter based on its Bell V-280 Valor. Bell Helicopter’s third generation tiltrotor design is on track to achieve first flight in 2017.

“Team Valor is excited about Bell Helicopter’s selection and TIA award for the JMR-TD. We look forward to working with the Army to demonstrate the superior capability of the next-generation tiltrotor aircraft,” said Keith Flail, Director of Bell Helicopter’s JMR-TD programme. “The unprecedented speed and range of the Bell V-280’s tiltrotor technology maximises operational effectiveness for future military operations, and the Bell V-280 offers the best solution for the US Army. Bell Helicopter’s clean-sheet design and fly-by-wire expertise promise the Bell V-280 Valor will be a transformational aircraft on the battlefield.”

The Bell V-280 Valor presents the US Army with the highest levels of maturity and technical readiness, with reduced complexity compared to previous generation tiltrotors. The Bell V-280 provides the best value in procurement, operations and support, and force structure, while delivering desired leap-ahead performance capabilities with increased maintainability, reliability and affordability to the Department of Defense.

With twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters, the Bell V-280 Valor will offer manoeuvre commanders unmatched operational agility to self-deploy and perform a multitude of vertical lift missions currently unachievable in one aircraft. The Bell V-280 is a combat force multiplier with superior performance, payload, survivability, and reliability to give the warfighter the decisive advantage.