Integris Composites and QinetiQ US have announced a significant collaboration aimed at enhancing the survivability of the US Army’s future long-range assault aircraft, known as the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). This partnership leverages Integris’ expertise in military armor systems to improve the durability, speed, range, and payload capabilities of the innovative medium-lift tilt-rotor aircraft.
As part of this collaboration, Integris will be responsible for developing advanced armor systems, while QinetiQ will provide essential systems engineering and integration support for the materials technology utilized in the aircraft’s floor and wings. David Cordova, Integris’ chief commercial officer, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that it builds upon their prior selection by Bell Textron, the contractor for the FLRAA, to supply armor systems. “We are extremely proud to be part of the team behind this innovative rotorcraft that is ushering in what will become the US Army’s new long-range assault aircraft,” Cordova remarked.
The FLRAA program, initiated to replace the aging fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, was launched back in 2019. Bell Textron secured a substantial $1.3 billion contract in 2022 to develop the aircraft, with prototype testing slated to commence in 2026 and full delivery planned by 2030. As of August 2024, the program officially entered its engineering and manufacturing development phase, marking a pivotal step where Bell began detailed design work on six prototypes.
In addition to the FLRAA project, Integris has also provided armor kits for the US Air Force’s new Boeing-manufactured MH-139A Grey Wolf multi-role helicopter fleet, with the first deliveries occurring in August 2024. Cordova emphasized that Integris is part of a rich legacy in military aviation, tracing roots back to the iconic Vietnam-era “Huey” (UH-1 Iroquois) and the current-day Black Hawk, which has been a critical asset for the Army’s Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) since 1979.
