The test flights were in support of the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) selection program. The FLRAA is on track for full-rate production by 2030. On 16 March 2020, the Army awarded Other Transaction Agreement contracts to Bell and Sikorsky for the competitive demonstration and risk reduction (CD&RR) phase of the FLRAA aircraft. The CD&RR will extend over two years, informing the final Army requirements and the program of record planned for competition in fiscal year 2022.

Testing new rotorcraft technology

“This is a tremendous opportunity for army experimental test pilots to fly the tech demonstrators developed under the Joint Multi-Role Technical Demonstrator Program; providing an initial familiarization with advanced rotorcraft technologies we might expect to see in the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program of record,” said Brig. Gen. Walter Rugen, Director of the FVL Cross-Functional Team.

RTC, a subordinate organization of ATEC, is the Army’s primary test center for the test and evaluation of aircraft and aviation systems. FVL is a top priority for ATEC and RTC as part of Army modernization.

ATEC provides direct support to Army Futures Command and relevant, timely information to army senior leaders to make future force decisions enabling multi-domain operations through requisite independent developmental testing, operational tests, and evaluations.

Meeting the challenges of army modernization

Maj. Wesley Paulsen and Mr. Adam Cowan, Army XPs from RTC, trained in the Software Integration Lab at Bell Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas, before flying the Bell V-280 Valor.

ATEC XPs and flight test engineers are embedded in both the FLRAA and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programs and are dedicated to supporting this important mission in support of army modernization efforts.

“These flights are an important milestone as the Army builds combined test teams with our industry partners and develops the experience and expertise to test new technologies for Future Vertical Lift,” said Col. Steven R. Braddom, Commander of RTC. “We are focused on ensuring we are ready to meet the challenges of army modernization. Army experimental test pilots with the engineering understanding of these aircraft, as well as significant operational and combat experience, will be a critical part of the Army’s development of the FLRAA and FARA aircraft.”