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SAS 2016: Bell unveils V-280 Valor naval variant

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Sea Air Space 2016 Online Show Daily - Bell Helicopter
 
 
 
SAS 2016: Bell unveils V-280 Valor naval variant
 
By Nathan Gain

As Bell Helicopter is moving forward with the Osprey integration in the US Navy under the Carrier Onboard Delivery program, the Fort-Worth-based rotorcraft manufacturer started preliminary studies on a naval variants of its future V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft. Navy Recognition learned during Sea-Air-Space 2016. A company representative stressed that no Navy requirements have been issued yet however.
     
As Bell Helicopter is moving forward with the Osprey integration in the US Navy under the Carrier Onboard Delivery program, the Fort-Worth-based rotorcraft manufacturer started preliminary studies on a naval variants of its future V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft. Navy Recognition learned during Sea-Air-Space 2016. A company representative stressed that no Navy requirements have been issued yet however.Bell's V-280 Valor naval variant scale-model showcased at SAS 2016
     
A modular platform, the naval version of the Valor will be able to perform wide range of missions: anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, airborne mine warfare, utility and logistic missions, personnel recovery, counter fast attack craft and fast inshore attack craft. But according to Bell Helicopter, the Valor naval variant will come in two different versions : one operating from the DDG vessels and one utility variant for the CVN.

The DDG variant will be shortened by a few inches in order to allow the helicopter to fit in destroyer's hangar. This version will have an external payload capability of 8,000 lbs and will accomodate up to eight fully-equiped troops. The DDG compatible V-280 will have an operational radius of up to 2100 nm thanks to inflight refuelling capability.
     
As Bell Helicopter is moving forward with the Osprey integration in the US Navy under the Carrier Onboard Delivery program, the Fort-Worth-based rotorcraft manufacturer started preliminary studies on a naval variants of its future V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft. Navy Recognition learned during Sea-Air-Space 2016. A company representative stressed that no Navy requirements have been issued yet however.
Bell Helicopter's artistic rendering of the DDG compatible V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft
(Credit: Bell Helicopter)
     
The CVN compatible variant will keep the same airframe than the US Army and will be primarly dedicated to utility and logistic missions. Cargo hooks will give it a lift capacity to carry a 10,500 lb, while the cabin will carry up to 12 troops.

Both variants will be designed for a cruising speed of 520 km/h and a 25,000 ft maximum ceiling.

The Bell V-280 Valor is a third-generation tilt-rotor concept being developed by Bell Helicopter and several industrial partners for the United States Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. In June 2015, Bell Helicopter's subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems began assembly of the composite fuselage for the first prototype V-280 Valor, which was delivered in September 2015.
     
As Bell Helicopter is moving forward with the Osprey integration in the US Navy under the Carrier Onboard Delivery program, the Fort-Worth-based rotorcraft manufacturer started preliminary studies on a naval variants of its future V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft. Navy Recognition learned during Sea-Air-Space 2016. A company representative stressed that no Navy requirements have been issued yet however.
An artistic rendering of what could become the naval utility variant of the V-280 Valor
(Credit: Bell Helicopter)