Bell Textron has contracted Safran Defense & Space Inc (DSI) to provide flight testing solutions in support of the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme.
This move marks a major advancement in the development of the Army’s next-generation vertical lift capabilities.
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Under the contract, Safran DSI will deliver a suite of in-flight and ground-based testing systems for six aircraft within the scope of the FLRAA programme.
The end-to-end system, featuring advanced technology, will aims to enable precise data acquisition, recording, and analysis for the aircraft.
Safran DSI Testing & Telemetry Aerospace Instrumentation & Mission Systems EVP Andrei Gugiu said: “FLRAA is a key development in the US Army’s modernisation efforts, and we are excited to contribute to this mission with our advanced flight-testing solutions.
“This contract underscores the dedication and expertise of our team in delivering reliable, mission-critical technologies for the US government.”
The US Army envisions FLRAA as a multi-role aircraft capable of supporting missions such as air assault, aeromedical evacuation, combat search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and tactical resupply.
The aircraft will replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, a medium-utility helicopter in service for more than five decades.
The new platform is expected to have a cruising speed of up to 280 knots, significantly higher than the Black Hawk’s 151 knots.
Additionally, the FLRAA is expected to carry 12 passengers more than 1,700 nautical miles without refuelling, operating at altitudes of 6,000ft in extreme temperatures.
The US Army has contracted Bell Textron to develop a prototype of the FLRAA based on its V-280 demonstrator aircraft.
The Army expects to introduce FLRAA into service in the 2030s while continuing to acquire Black Hawk helicopters in the interim.
In August 2024, US Army approved the Milestone B decision for the FLRAA, initiating the Program of Record. The decision marks the next phase in the development of the aircraft.
The administration has requested $1.26bn from Congress for research, development, testing, and evaluation of the FLRAA programme in FY2025.
