V-280 Valor Tilt Rotor Aircraft

The Bell V-280 Valor tilt rotor aircraft is presented as a potential replacement for the US Army's UH-60 Black Hawk. It certainly has impressive performance as compared to the Black Hawk. Able to carry 14 troops in addition to 4 aircrew at a speed of 280 KTAS for up to a combat range of between 500 nm to 800 nm. Load carry capacity is more than 12,000 lb. The latest UH-60M Black Hawk can carry 11 troop at 151 kt to a combat range of up to 120 nm.

The V-280 Valor is smaller than the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey which can carry 24 troop and 3 aircrew. But this also means that it is cheaper and easier to produce. The first flight of the V-280 is expected in Sep 2017.

The competitor to V-280 under the multi-service Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme is the Boeing Sikosrky SB-1 Defiant, a co-axial rotor helicopter based on Sikorsky’s S-97 design. The rear mounted pusher propeller will enable the SB-1 to attain speed of up to 250 knots. The SB-1 will carry 12 troop and 4 aircrew.

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