WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Bell Textron announced today that Wichita will help build fuselage assembly for the aircraft that will replace the US Army’s Blackhawk helicopters.
The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft V-280 is similar in design to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, which has a tiltrotor VTOL system.
The fuselage assembly will be manufactured at an existing facility at the Beech Field on Textron Aviation’s East Campus. Other components will be manufactured at facilities in Texas, with final assembly in Amarillo.
“As Bell prepares for the next stage of FLRAA’s Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, we are committed to investing in advanced manufacturing to ensure we deliver exceptional performance at an affordable cost to our customer,” said Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Bell. “Textron has a rich history with the state of Kansas as well as the city of Wichita, and we are proud to deepen that relationship as we establish this new facility.”
“Bell Textron’s decision to continue production of the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft in Kansas marks an historic day for the Air Capital of the World,” said Sen. Jerry Moran. “This announcement is a testament to the Kansas workforce and the unique combination of academia and industry that Wichita has to offer. I look forward to our state supporting this generational aircraft that will impact our national security and workforce for years to come.”
“The announcement of Bell Textron building the FLRAA fuselage in Wichita is great news for the Air Capital of the World and highlights Textron’s commitment to our region,” said Rep. Ron Estes. “This program is critical for the Army’s aviation modernization, and I look forward to expanding Bell’s presence in south central Kansas. We know that our skilled workforce is the best in the world, and this announcement is a testament to the quality of our aviation manufacturers and supply chain.”
The FLRAA will fly twice as fast and twice as far as the UH-60 Blackhawk. It will be capable of transporting and evacuating troops and performing medical evacuations.
It is expected to enter service fully by 2030.