Bell V-280 Valor Officially Designated MV-75 by U.S. Army
The U.S. Army has officially designated the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor as the MV-75, marking a major milestone in the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The announcement was made on May 14, 2025, confirming the aircraft’s new role as the successor to the legendary UH-60 Black Hawk.
Developed by Bell Textron, the V-280 Valor was selected in 2022 as the FLRAA program winner, beating Sikorsky-Boeing’s Defiant X proposal.
Featuring tiltrotor technology, the MV-75 blends vertical takeoff and landing capability with fixed-wing cruise performance, offering significantly improved speed, range, and payload over conventional helicopters.
The aircraft is expected to cruise at up to 280 knots (approximately 520 km/h) and will have a combat range exceeding 500 nautical miles (930 km). It can carry up to 14 fully equipped troops or external loads up to 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg), making it highly adaptable for assault missions, medevac, and tactical resupply.
The “MV” prefix—short for “Multi-Mission Vertical Takeoff”—follows the naming convention used for other tiltrotors like the MV-22 Osprey, used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The number “75” designates a new generation utility aircraft within the Army’s aviation fleet.
The FLRAA program entered the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase in 2024. Bell plans to build six prototypes, with the first flight scheduled for 2026 and low-rate initial production starting in 2028. The aircraft is expected to enter operational service around 2030.
With the MV-75, the U.S. Army takes a decisive step toward modernizing its assault aviation capabilities, introducing an aircraft that combines speed, endurance, and survivability to meet the demands of next-generation combat environments.
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