GE Aerospace has announced the acquisition of a subcontract from Bell Textron for the design, development, and delivery of advanced avionics systems crucial to the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. This contract comes on the heels of Bell’s Milestone B approval received in August 2024, marking a significant milestone that propels the FLRAA program into its engineering and manufacturing development phase.
As part of this subcontract, GE Aerospace will focus on creating a digital backbone for the upcoming assault helicopter, which will integrate Time-Sensitive Networking technology. This innovative approach is aimed at facilitating high-speed and reliable data exchange among various systems, enabling rapid upgrades and reconfigurations of the aircraft without the need for extensive involvement from systems integrators.
Tanika Watson, the General Manager of Future Vertical Lift at GE Aerospace, expressed her enthusiasm about this development phase. She emphasized that the advancement of the digital backbone is crucial for the US Army’s future vertical lift programs. “The Digital Backbone provides the framework to make aircraft system modifications and realize the benefits of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) designs from the outset of Future Vertical Lift programs,” Watson stated.
In addition to developing the digital backbone, GE Aerospace is also tasked with providing the health awareness system for the FLRAA, ensuring that the aircraft’s operational readiness can be monitored efficiently.
The FLRAA program itself is significant, as it is set to replace an estimated 2,000 Black Hawk helicopters and 1,200 Apache helicopters currently in service. Bell secured the $1.3 billion production contract for the FLRAA in December 2022, defeating a joint bid from formidable competitors Sikorsky and Boeing. The V-280 Valor tiltrotor, which won the contract, boasts capabilities that include twice the range and endurance of existing military helicopters.
With a cruising speed of 280 knots (approximately 320 miles or 520 kilometers per hour) and a top speed of 300 knots (around 345 miles or 556 kilometers per hour), the V-280 Valor is engineered for superior flight performance and enhanced lifecycle sustainability. The initial flight of the FLRAA is slated for 2026, with low-rate initial production expected to begin in 2028, followed by initial operational fielding in 2030. This timeline underscores the strategic importance of the FLRAA program in the future of military aviation and the critical role GE Aerospace will play in its development.
