Aviation News – Bell Textron Inc., headquartered in Fort Worth, is accelerating work on the MV-75, the U.S. Army’s future attack aircraft, with delivery of a prototype expected ahead of schedule. Chosen in 2022 for the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, Bell’s contract could generate $1.3 billion in the near term and up to $70 billion over several decades. The MV-75 will replace the UH-60 Black Hawk built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary.
To support production, Bell is investing heavily in Dallas-Fort Worth facilities. Projects include a $20 million-plus Drive Systems Test Lab in Grand Prairie, a Weapons Systems Integration Lab in Arlington, and a $632 million AllianceTexas plant for transmissions and rotor blades. The company employs over 8,000 people, with 4,000 in Fort Worth, and anticipates growth under the Army contract.
The Army has advanced its delivery target to 2028, prompting Bell to adopt a “soldiers on the factory floor” approach. In June, Bell provided two MV-75 virtual prototypes to help train Army pilots in tiltrotor operations. Assembly will take place in Amarillo, with components produced in DFW and Wichita, Kansas.
Second-quarter revenue for Bell rose 28% year-over-year to $1 billion, driven by the MV-75 program and commercial helicopter sales. Bell is also bidding to supply Bell 505 helicopters for Army pilot training and is collaborating with DARPA on a high-speed X-plane demonstrator capable of 450 knots.
With substantial state and local incentives on the table, Bell’s investments position North Texas as a central hub for next-generation military aviation.
Image Bell Helicopters
