The initial testing of this new aircraft focused on delivering performance data to prove out the speed, range, agility, and efficiency of the V-280’s design to enable the Army to move and concentrate forces at the extended distances required for global operations as part of the Joint Force. The V-280 Valor has surpassed Bell’s programme goals and expected milestones over the past three years as part of the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR TD) programme.

Bell and Team VALOR have systematically decreased risk for the Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) initiative using data-driven preparation, transparency, collaboration with the Army and a dynamic approach to deliver evidence of exceptional performance to inform a programme of record. This was designed to demonstrate Bell-defined key performance parameters to showcase advanced capability, reduce risk and inform requirements for the Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) initiative on a clean sheet aircraft design. Since then, the V-280 team has executed a rigorous flight test programme flying 200 hours through over 150 individual test flights. and Team VALOR have celebrated the three-year anniversary of the V-280 VALOR’s first flight.

V280 valor