The US Army announced on Tuesday (May 14) at the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual Mission Solutions Summit that the Bell V-280 tiltrotor aircraft will be named MV-75. The Army aims to advance the service entry of MV-75 from 2030 to 2028, with the 101st Airborne Division being the first unit to receive MV-75.
In December 2022, the US Army selected Bell Textron’s V-280 “Valor” tiltrotor aircraft as the winner of the “Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft” (FLRAA) program. The “Valor” tiltrotor aircraft is set to replace the renowned UH-60 Black Hawk family and some AH-64 Apache armed helicopters, becoming a primary rotorcraft of the US Army.
In terms of the name itself, “M” stands for “Multi-Mission,” and “V” denotes its vertical takeoff and landing design. Considering that the names of previous Army transport helicopters (such as Black Hawk and Chinook) all begin with “U” (indicating utility) or “C” (for cargo), the “Multi-Mission” title of MV-75 may reflect its special operational characteristics to some extent. Additionally, the number “75” in the MV-75 name represents the Army’s founding date, June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress formally established the Continental Army, the predecessor of the US Army.
Compared to the traditional Black Hawk helicopter, MV-75 boasts advantages such as higher speed, longer range, and larger internal space. MV-75 can reach a top speed of 556 kilometers per hour and has a range of 3,900 kilometers. In contrast, the Black Hawk helicopter has a maximum speed of less than 300 kilometers per hour and a range of 1,500 kilometers. MV-75’s maximum takeoff weight reaches 14 tons, while the Black Hawk helicopter is under 10 tons. The internal space of MV-75 is also larger than that of the Black Hawk, accommodating 4 crew members and up to 14 passengers, whereas the Black Hawk can carry 4 crew members and 11 passengers. MV-75 can lift a 5.4-ton useful load, while the Black Hawk can only lift 4.1 tons.
Bell’s MV-75 and Boeing’s V-22 Osprey are both tiltrotor aircraft. The Osprey family is currently in service with the US Marine Corps (MV-22B), US Air Force (CV-22B), US Navy (CMV-22B), and has been exported to Japan.
However, Bell has made significant improvements over the V-22. One major improvement is the arrangement of the rotor/transmission assembly and engine compartment in parallel, which eliminates the need for additional mechanical systems and weight. Adjusting rotor angles no longer requires touching the engine and transmission systems, greatly simplifying the wing design and providing more flexibility in aircraft design.
Another major improvement of MV-75 is the elimination of the V-22’s rear ramp door design, replacing it with a side door design similar to the Black Hawk, with the side door located under the wing. The wing helps shield the downward airflow, making it more conducive for sling operations. The 1.8-meter-wide side door allows personnel to enter and exit more quickly, facilitates loading of stretchers, rapid rappelling, and also enables the installation of weapons on the cargo door, such as door-mounted machine guns, rockets, and more.
The 101st Airborne Division is a premier airborne assault unit of the US Army and will be the first unit to receive MV-75, already preparing tactics for the arrival of this advanced tiltrotor aircraft.