Progress and Plans: American MV-75 Tiltrotor
The experimental V-280 tiltrotor during factory tests
For aviation The US Army is currently developing the advanced MV-75 convertiplane. This model is currently undergoing testing and refinement, while preparations for future serial production are underway. According to the Pentagon's current plans, the first convertiplanes of the new model will be delivered to combat units by the end of the decade and will reach initial operational readiness at that time.
Recent successes
It should be recalled that the future MV-75 tiltrotor was developed by Bell Textron Inc. and was initially called V-280 and Valor. The project started in the early 2013s and was created for the US Army Joint Multi-Role (JMR) competition. In 2019, it was transferred to the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program, and since XNUMX, the tiltrotor has been a participant in the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition.
In December 2022, the Army announced the results of the FLRAA program. The Bell Textron V-280 design demonstrated the best balance of performance and capabilities. A contract was awarded to continue development and build pilot batches of the vehicle.
In November 2024, the prototype V-280 received the Army designation YMV-75A. The letters "MV" stood for Multirole Vertical, and the letter "Y" marked the specific prototype. In turn, the number "75" was meant to recall 1775, the year the U.S. Army was formed.
In mid-May 2025, it became known that the Pentagon officially approved the MV-75 designation. Under this index, the prototype equipment will continue testing, and it will be given to serial vehicles in the future. The alphanumeric designation will now be used in official documents instead of the abbreviation FLRAA.
Plans for the future
The initial goal of the FLRAA program was to create a multi-role aircraft to replace the existing UH-60 helicopters. It was assumed that within a few decades the new equipment would completely replace its predecessors. However, the plans were later revised.
In mid-May, Army Deputy Chief of Staff General James Mingus revealed the current plans for the FLRAA and MV-75 at a public event. He noted that the new tiltrotor has a unique combination of characteristics and capabilities, and for this reason is of particular interest to the Army.
Bell Textron is reportedly currently fulfilling a previously received contract for the assembly of pre-production equipment. As part of this batch, it must deliver six MV-75 vehicles to the army. Next year, these vehicles will undergo factory testing, after which they will be handed over to the customer.
Army Aviation will begin its own testing of six tiltrotor aircraft in 2027-28. These activities are expected to take no more than two to three years. Based on their results, the equipment will receive permission to operate, and its development in combat units will begin. The first unit on the MV-75 should reach initial operational readiness in 2030.
Load tests
General J. Mingus said that the 101st Airborne Division will be the first to receive the new equipment. This unit regularly participates in various operations and has to operate in different conditions, without the necessary infrastructure, etc. It is expected that the MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft will increase the division's mobility and demonstrate the required level of reliability for any action.
In the future, the new tiltrotor aircraft may also be deployed in other US Army units. However, such plans have not yet been specified. In addition, the Pentagon is not ready to disclose the planned volumes and rates of serial production. It is possible that all such plans have not yet been worked out.
Interestingly, the Army has revised some of its global plans. For example, the MV-75 FLRAA is no longer considered a replacement for the existing UH-60s. Tiltrotors will not have to replace helicopters. On the contrary, over the next few decades, the two families of equipment will serve in parallel and complement each other.
How long the joint operation of the old UH-60 and the new MV-75 will continue cannot be said yet. In addition, it is unknown what will happen next. Perhaps by the end of the mentioned decades new models of aircraft with certain features will be developed. However, it is too early to make such plans.
New opportunities
In fact, since the start of the FVL and FLRAA programs, various officials have spoken about the great importance of such developments and mentioned that these projects will change the capabilities of army aviation. The companies participating in the projects agreed with such assessments and also did not miss the opportunity to once again remind about their developments and give them additional advertising.
Tiltrotors at work - so far only in graphic form
It should be noted that the high ratings of the FLRAA program were well-founded. The competition projects had special requirements, and to meet them, it was necessary to demonstrate high performance. The V-280 / MV-75 tiltrotor coped with such tasks, and is now set to enter service.
The goal of the FLRAA program was to create an aircraft that would surpass existing helicopters in speed and range. This is why Bell Textron chose the tiltrotor design. Two nacelles with large-diameter movable propellers allowed for vertical takeoff and landing, as well as high-speed horizontal flight. At the same time, such an architecture is characterized by increased complexity, but the developer successfully coped with the technical challenges.
The prospective convertiplane was built according to a normal aerodynamic scheme with a high-mounted straight wing and V-shaped tail. It has a length of 15,4 m and a wingspan close to it. The dry weight is 8,2 tons, the maximum takeoff weight is 14 tons.
The MV-75 is powered by two Rolls-Royce AE 1107F turboshaft engines producing over 6100 hp each. The engine is connected to a specially designed reduction gear and drives a three-bladed propeller with a diameter of 10,7 ft (XNUMX m). The reduction gear design allows the nose of the nacelle to oscillate, changing the position of the propeller.
During the tests, the experimental V-280 demonstrated a cruising speed of 280 knots or 520 km/h. The maximum speed is over 550 km/h. The combat radius, depending on the load and fuel supply, reaches 1,5 thousand km. The ferry range is 3,9 thousand km. The ceiling is 1800 m.
At the customer's request, the convertiplane received a spacious cabin to accommodate various loads. It is capable of transporting 14 people or a comparable load. Boarding or loading is carried out through sliding side doors. External cargo suspension is also provided.
The MV-75 tiltrotor has limited capabilities in terms of armament. Machine guns or other weapons can be mounted in the passenger cabin. weapon for shooting sideways and downwards, but the design of the installation must take into account the presence of propellers and the risk of their destruction. Suspended weapons are not provided.
In general, the new tiltrotor for army aviation is at least as good as the existing UH-60 helicopters in terms of its transport capabilities. At the same time, it has advantages in key flight characteristics. It also stands out due to its innovative design and instrumentation.
On the eve of success
Thus, the US Army FLRAA program is approaching its completion, and success is expected. The prototype tiltrotor V-280 / MV-75 has completed the main part of the tests and confirmed the calculated characteristics. Additional tests are currently being carried out, and pre-production is being prepared.
The next stage of testing will begin next year, for which a new batch of equipment is being built. Then, over the course of several years, the MV-75 will be brought into series production and introduced into the military. The Pentagon expects that the full-scale operation of the tiltrotor aircraft will begin by 2030, and for now such forecasts look realistic.
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