Bell’s MV-75 Cheyenne II Tiltrotor Accelerates Toward First Flight | Aviation International News

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Cheyenne II Tiltrotor Accelerates Toward First Flight

Completed sub-assemblies are coming together for the first test vehicles

Bell MV-75 Cheyenne II — The U.S. Army chose what would become the Bell MV-75 Cheyenne II tiltrotor for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program in 2022. Production could start as early as 2028. © David McIntosh/AIN

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

July 21, 2026

Textron’s Bell company is on a mission to get the MV-75 Cheyenne II tiltrotor into the hands of the U.S. Army as soon as possible. When the company won the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition to provide a replacement for the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk fleet in December 2022, the entry-into-service date was stated as 2030/31. However, the service now wants the aircraft quicker. Production could get underway in 2028, but exact program dates, such as the scheduled first flight date, remain under wraps.

In the meantime, Bell is moving forward rapidly to meet the accelerated deadlines. This would not be possible without the aircraft’s digital backbone, which allows rapid prototyping, development, and detailed design changes. With everything linked through a centralized digital model, the manufacturing process, production system, and maintenance regime can be developed and implemented in line with that of the vehicle itself.

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