Latest news with #MV-75
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aircraft maker Textron tops profit estimates on strong aftermarket service, Bell demand
(Reuters) -Aircraft maker Textron beat second-quarter profit and revenue estimates on Thursday, helped by strong demand for aftermarket parts and services and growth in its Bell unit. "In the quarter, we saw revenue growth in both our commercial aircraft and helicopter businesses, as well as in Bell's FLRAA program, now known as the MV-75," said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott C. Donnelly. Textron's larger aviation segment, which manufactures Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft, delivered 49 jets in the quarter, up from 42 in the second quarter last year. However, its quarterly deliveries of commercial turboprop were down to 34 from 44 last year. The segment's revenue rose 2.9% from last year to $1.52 billion, aided by higher aftermarket parts and services revenues in the second quarter. The company's Bell unit makes helicopters and tiltrotors, and has benefited from the Bell V-280 Valor program which the U.S. Army designates as the MV-75 future long-range assault aircraft. The unit posted a nearly 30% rise in quarterly revenue to $1.02 billion. Textron's total revenue rose more than 5% to $3.72 billion in the second quarter, compared with estimates of $3.64 billion, according to LSEG compiled data. Its quarterly adjusted profit stood at $1.55 per share, compared with the average of analysts' estimates of $1.44 per share. Textron reiterated its expectation for full-year 2025 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $6.00 to $6.20 per share. The Providence, Rhode Island-based firm, however, sees a $100 million hike in its annual adjusted manufacturing cash flow to be in the range of $900 million to $1.0 billion. This incorporates the expected impact associated with recently enacted U.S. tax legislation.
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Textron Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today reported second quarter 2025 income from continuing operations of $1.35 per share, flat with the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted income from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure that is defined and reconciled to GAAP in an attachment to this release, was $1.55 per share for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $1.54 per share in the second quarter of 2024. "In the quarter, we saw revenue growth in both our commercial aircraft and helicopter businesses, as well as in Bell's FLRAA program, now known as the MV-75," said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott C. Donnelly. "At Textron Aviation, operations continued to improve as production ramped." Cash Flow Net cash provided by operating activities of the manufacturing group for the second quarter was $395 million, compared to $383 million last year. Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions, a non-GAAP measure that is defined and reconciled to GAAP in an attachment to this release, totaled $336 million for the second quarter, compared to $320 million last year. In the quarter, Textron returned $214 million to shareholders through share repurchases. Year to date, Textron has returned $429 million to shareholders through share repurchases. Outlook Textron reiterated its expectation for full-year 2025 GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of $5.19 to $5.39, or $6.00 to $6.20 on an adjusted basis, which is reconciled to GAAP in an attachment to this release. Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions, a non-GAAP measure, is now expected to be in the range of $900 million to $1.0 billion, up $100 million from the previous outlook. This updated outlook incorporates the expected impact associated with recently enacted U.S. tax legislation. Second Quarter Segment Results Textron Aviation Textron Aviation's revenues were $1.5 billion, up $42 million from last year's second quarter, reflecting higher aircraft revenues of $35 million and higher aftermarket parts and services revenues of $7 million. Textron Aviation delivered 49 jets in the quarter, up from 42 in the second quarter of 2024, and 34 commercial turboprops, down from 44 in last year's second quarter. Segment profit was $180 million in the second quarter, down $15 million from a year ago, primarily due to the mix of aircraft sold and higher warranty costs, partially offset by the favorable impact of manufacturing efficiencies and higher pricing, net of inflation. Textron Aviation backlog at the end of the second quarter was $7.85 billion. Bell Bell revenues were $1.0 billion, up $222 million from the second quarter of 2024. The revenue increase in the quarter was driven by higher military revenues of $149 million, primarily due to higher volume from the U.S. Army's MV-75 program, and higher commercial revenues of $73 million, primarily due to the mix of aircraft sold. Bell delivered 32 commercial helicopters in the quarter, flat with 32 in last year's second quarter. Segment profit of $80 million was down $2 million from last year's second quarter, primarily reflecting higher research and development costs, partially offset by higher volume and mix. Bell backlog at the end of the second quarter was $6.9 billion. Textron Systems Textron Systems revenues were $321 million, down $2 million from last year's second quarter. Segment profit of $40 million was up $5 million, compared with the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower selling and administrative expense. Textron Systems backlog at the end of the second quarter was $2.2 billion. Industrial Industrial revenues were $839 million, down $75 million from last year's second quarter, largely at Textron Specialized Vehicles where revenues decreased $66 million, reflecting the impact from the disposition of the Powersports business in the second quarter of 2025 and lower volume. Segment profit of $54 million was up $12 million from the second quarter of 2024, primarily reflecting the impact from the disposition of the Powersports business and the benefit of cost reductions from restructuring activities, partially offset by lower volume and mix. Textron eAviation Textron eAviation segment revenues were $8 million in the second quarter of 2025, as compared to $9 million in last year's second quarter, and segment loss was $16 million, as compared with a segment loss of $18 million in the second quarter of 2024. Finance Finance segment revenues were $15 million, and profit was $8 million in the second quarter of 2025, as compared to segment revenues of $12 million and profit of $7 million in the second quarter of 2024. Conference Call Information Textron will host its conference call today, July 24, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss its results and outlook. The call will be available via webcast at or by direct dial at (833) 470-1428 in the U.S. or (929) 526-1599 outside of the U.S.; Access Code: 626840. In addition, the call will be recorded and available for playback beginning at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) on Thursday, July 24, 2025 by dialing (866) 813-9403; Access Code: 942127. A package containing key data that will be covered on today's call can be found in the Investor Relations section of the company's website at About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: Forward-looking Information Certain statements in this release and other oral and written statements made by us from time to time are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which may describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters, or project revenues, income, returns or other financial measures, often include words such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'guidance,' 'project,' 'target,' 'potential,' 'will,' 'should,' 'could,' 'likely' or 'may' and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. In addition to those factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under 'Risk Factors', among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from past and projected future results are the following: Interruptions in the U.S. Government's ability to fund its activities and/or pay its obligations; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; the U.S. Government's ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government's convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates and inflationary pressures; risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries; our Finance segment's ability to maintain portfolio credit quality or to realize full value of receivables; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting our operations or demand for our products; our ability to control costs and successfully implement various cost-reduction activities; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; pension plan assumptions and future contributions; demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business; cybersecurity threats, including the potential misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or, operational disruption; difficulty or unanticipated expenses in connection with integrating acquired businesses; the risk that acquisitions do not perform as planned, including, for example, the risk that acquired businesses will not achieve revenue and profit projections; the impact of changes in tax legislation; the risk of disruptions to our business and the business of our suppliers, customers and other business partners due to unexpected events, such as pandemics, natural disasters, acts of war, strikes, terrorism, social unrest or other societal, geopolitical or macroeconomic conditions; risks related to changing U.S. and foreign trade policies, including increased trade restrictions or tariffs; and the ability of our businesses to hire and retain the highly skilled personnel necessary for our businesses to succeed. (a) Segment profit, adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Outlook" attached to this release. (b) In the second quarter of 2025, we initiated restructuring actions to reduce operating expenses in the Textron Systems segment in connection with the termination of certain U.S government development programs. We incurred $8 million in special charges, which included $5 million of severance costs and $3 million of contract termination costs. These charges were partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $4 million recognized in the second quarter of 2025 related to the sale of the Powersports business. In the second quarter and first half of 2024, we recorded special charges of $13 million and $27 million, respectively, in connection with the restructuring plan announced at the end of 2023. These charges were largely related to headcount reductions in the Industrial, Textron Systems and Bell segments. Expand TEXTRON INC. MANUFACTURING GROUP Condensed Schedule of Cash Flows (In millions) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 28, 2025 June 29, 2024 June 28, 2025 June 29, 2024 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Income from continuing operations $ 236 $ 254 $ 435 $ 441 Depreciation and amortization 100 90 192 178 Deferred income taxes and income taxes receivable/payable 11 (41 ) 26 (22 ) Pension, net (58 ) (56 ) (117 ) (112 ) Gain on business disposition (4 ) — (4 ) — Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net 38 44 54 10 Inventories (101 ) (117 ) (284 ) (467 ) Accounts payable (8 ) (14 ) 163 107 Other, net 181 223 (184 ) 218 Net cash from operating activities 395 383 281 353 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (78 ) (74 ) (134 ) (140 ) Net proceeds from corporate-owned life insurance policies 26 23 57 26 Net proceeds from business disposition 16 — 16 — Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 9 — 9 3 Net cash used in business acquisitions (1 ) (13 ) (1 ) (13 ) Other investing activities, net — — 15 — Net cash from investing activities (28 ) (64 ) (38 ) (124 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Net proceeds from long-term debt — — 495 — Principal payments on long-term debt and nonrecourse debt (1 ) (7 ) (353 ) (359 ) Purchases of Textron common stock (214 ) (358 ) (429 ) (675 ) Dividends paid (4 ) (4 ) (7 ) (8 ) Other financing activities, net (5 ) 10 (5 ) 48 Net cash from financing activities (224 ) (359 ) (299 ) (994 ) Total cash flows from continuing operations 143 (40 ) (56 ) (765 ) Total cash flows from discontinued operations (1 ) (1 ) (1 ) (1 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents 16 (2 ) 23 (10 ) Net change in cash and equivalents 158 (43 ) (34 ) (776 ) Cash and equivalents at beginning of period 1,194 1,388 1,386 2,121 Cash and equivalents at end of period $ 1,352 $ 1,345 $ 1,352 $ 1,345 Manufacturing cash flow GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 28, 2025 June 29, 2024 June 28, 2025 June 29, 2024 Net cash from operating activities - GAAP $ 395 $ 383 $ 281 $ 353 Less: Capital expenditures (78 ) (74 ) (134 ) (140 ) Add: Total pension contributions 10 11 22 23 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 9 — 9 3 Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions - Non-GAAP (a) $ 336 $ 320 $ 178 $ 239 Expand (a) Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Outlook" attached to this release. Expand TEXTRON INC. Condensed Consolidated Schedule of Cash Flows (In millions) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Income from continuing operations $ 245 $ 260 $ 452 $ 461 Depreciation and amortization 100 90 192 178 Deferred income taxes and income taxes receivable/payable 7 (47 ) 24 (24 ) Pension, net (58 ) (56 ) (117 ) (112 ) Gain on business disposition (4 ) — (4 ) — Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net 38 44 54 10 Inventories (101 ) (117 ) (284 ) (467 ) Accounts payable (8 ) (14 ) 163 107 Captive finance receivables, net (13 ) (15 ) (26 ) 7 Other, net 182 223 (190 ) 201 Net cash from operating activities 388 368 264 361 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (78 ) (74 ) (134 ) (140 ) Net proceeds from corporate-owned life insurance policies 26 23 57 26 Net proceeds from business disposition 16 — 16 — Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 9 — 9 3 Net cash used in business acquisitions (1 ) (13 ) (1 ) (13 ) Finance receivables repaid 8 23 17 31 Finance receivables originated (21 ) (7 ) (21 ) (18 ) Proceeds from the disposition of leveraged leases 59 — 59 — Other investing activities, net — — 15 — Net cash from investing activities 18 (48 ) 17 (111 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Net proceeds from long-term debt — — 495 — Principal payments on long-term debt and nonrecourse debt (9 ) (9 ) (364 ) (374 ) Purchases of Textron common stock (214 ) (358 ) (429 ) (675 ) Dividends paid (4 ) (4 ) (7 ) (8 ) Other financing activities, net (5 ) (1 ) (5 ) 48 Net cash from financing activities (232 ) (372 ) (310 ) (1,009 ) Total cash flows from continuing operations 174 (52 ) (29 ) (759 ) Total cash flows from discontinued operations (1 ) (1 ) (1 ) (1 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents 16 (2 ) 23 (10 ) Net change in cash and equivalents 189 (55 ) (7 ) (770 ) Cash and equivalents at beginning of period 1,245 1,466 1,441 2,181 Cash and equivalents at end of period $ 1,434 $ 1,411 $ 1,434 $ 1,411 Expand TEXTRON INC. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Outlook (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures may be useful for period-over-period comparisons of underlying business trends and our ongoing business performance, however, they should be used in conjunction with GAAP measures. Our non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define similarly named measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. We utilize the following definitions for the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release and have provided a reconciliation of the GAAP to non-GAAP amounts for each measure: Segment Profit Segment profit is an important measure used by our chief operating decision maker for evaluating performance and for decision-making purposes. Segment profit for the manufacturing segments excludes the non-service components of pension and postretirement income, net; LIFO inventory provision; intangible asset amortization; interest expense, net for Manufacturing group; certain corporate expenses; gains/losses on major business dispositions; and special charges. The measurement for the Finance segment includes interest income and expense along with intercompany interest income and expense. Adjusted Income from continuing operations, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share and Outlook Adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted diluted earnings per share exclude LIFO inventory provision, net of tax; intangible asset amortization, net of tax; special charges, net of tax; and gains/losses on major business dispositions, net of tax. LIFO inventory provision is excluded to improve comparability with other companies in our industry who have not elected to use the LIFO inventory costing method. Intangible asset amortization is excluded to improve comparability as the impact of such amortization can vary substantially from company to company depending upon the nature and extent of acquisitions and exclusion of this expense is consistent with the presentation of non-GAAP measures provided by other companies within our industry. Management believes that it is important for investors to understand that these intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase accounting and contribute to revenue generation. We consider items recorded in special charges, such as enterprise-wide restructuring, certain asset impairment charges, and acquisition-related restructuring, integration and transaction costs, to be of a non-recurring nature that is not indicative of ongoing operations. TEXTRON INC. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Outlook (Continued) (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) Manufacturing Cash Flow Before Pension Contributions and Outlook Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions adjusts net cash from operating activities (GAAP) for the following: Deducts capital expenditures and includes proceeds from insurance recoveries and the sale of property, plant and equipment to arrive at the net capital investment required to support ongoing manufacturing operations; Excludes dividends received from Textron Financial Corporation (TFC) and capital contributions to TFC provided under the Support Agreement and debt agreements as these cash flows are not representative of manufacturing operations; Adds back pension contributions as we consider our pension obligations to be debt-like liabilities. Additionally, these contributions can fluctuate significantly from period to period and we believe that they are not representative of cash used by our manufacturing operations during the period. While we believe this measure provides a focus on cash generated from manufacturing operations, before pension contributions, and may be used as an additional relevant measure of liquidity, it does not necessarily provide the amount available for discretionary expenditures since we have certain non-discretionary obligations that are not deducted from the measure. 2025 Outlook Net cash from operating activities - GAAP $ 1,266 — $ 1,366 Less: Capital expenditures (425) Add: Total pension contributions 50 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 9 Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions - Non-GAAP $ 900 — $ 1,000 Expand
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Two arrested from Hyderabad for journalist's murder in Malkangiri
MALKANGIRI: The special investigation team (SIT) of Malkangiri police has arrested two youths for their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of web news channel journalist Ch Naresh which took place on July 12 near Muraliguda under Motu police limits. Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil on Saturday said accused Sukumar Ray (25) of MV-75 and Konkan Jordar (21) of MPV-82 were nabbed from Hyderabad. On July 12, Ray and Jordar were present near the crime scene, located around 9 km from Motu. Naresh and four others were travelling in an SUV when an altercation broke out between them and the accused. Subsequently, Naresh was brutally attacked with a sword. The attackers also attempted to assault Tarun Kumar, one of the victim's companions. However, he managed to escape after throwing the car keys into a nearby bush. The accused took the keys and fled the scene with the car. Tarun and others later transported the injured Naresh to Motu health centre from where he was referred to the district headquarters hospital in Malkangiri. However, he was declared brought dead. The SP said three teams were formed to conduct raids across Malkangiri and neighbouring districts. With assistance from the Crime Branch and State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), sketches of the suspects were prepared and widely circulated. Based on technical and circumstantial evidence, the identities of the accused were confirmed. It was found that they had fled to Hyderabad to evade arrest. Acting on technical and local intelligence, a team was dispatched to Hyderabad, where the two accused were arrested. Police have recovered the vehicle used by the victim and his friends, as well as the motorcycle used by the accused during the crime. The accused will be produced in court and taken on remand for further interrogation. Patil said the motive behind the murder will be revealed following further investigation.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Move over, Black Hawk: Army unveils the MV-75, tiltrotor aircraft to replace iconic assault chopper
The U.S. Army is preparing to retire its iconic Black Hawk helicopters — the workhorses of its air assault fleet for nearly five decades — in favor of a faster, more versatile aircraft built for the challenges of 21st-century warfare. Bell Aircraft's V-280 Valor, a cutting-edge tiltrotor aircraft, has been selected to begin phasing out the Black Hawk by the 2030s. Once fully deployed, it will be designated the MV-75, though a common nickname has yet to emerge. The Valor combines the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing airplane, cruising at 320 mph — nearly double the Black Hawk's top speed of 175 mph. This hybrid design, enabled by tiltrotor technology, allows the MV-75 to hover, land vertically in tight spaces, and then shift into high-speed horizontal flight. It's tailor-made for operations in the Indo-Pacific region, where U.S. forces must be able to travel long distances over the ocean and conduct rapid insertions into constrained environments, such as jungle clearings or island terrain without runways. Fox News Digital recently took a tour of Bell's Advanced Vertical Lift Center in Crystal City, Virginia. Billions Spent, Warfighters Wait: Inside The Pentagon's Broken Buying System And The Plan To Fix It "The Army recognized that the battlefield has changed," Rob Freeland, Bell's director of government relations and public affairs, said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "The enemy now has long-range fires, advanced sensors, and robust networks. You have to move faster and strike before they do." Read On The Fox News App Speed and range are at the heart of this transformation. As Freeland put it: "If you can move at twice the speed and range of your adversary, you can change the outcome before they can react." The MV-75 is designed to carry up to 14 troops and haul payloads of 10,000 pounds, making it ideal for rapid troop deployments, heavy resupply and surprise assault missions. It will also feature autonomous and semi-autonomous capabilities, a leap forward in reducing pilot workload and enabling future unmanned operations. The V-280 Valor beat out a proposed joint Sikorsky-Boeing compound helicopter platform dubbed the SB-1 Defiant-X in 2019 for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The Army has contracted Texas-based aerospace company Bell to build six prototypes, conduct the first test flight by 2026 and begin full-scale production by 2028, with delivery targeted for 2030. However, leadership has expressed interest in accelerating that schedule under the Army Transformation Initiative. "We're not waiting for a distant out-year to make this thing real," said Gen. James Mingus, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, speaking at the Mission Solutions Summit earlier this month. "We are driving to get this aircraft online years ahead of schedule." Hegseth Orders Sweeping Army Overhaul And Consolidation Aimed At Countering China And Golden Dome Capabilities The "MV" designation reflects the aircraft's multi-mission and vertical takeoff capabilities. It's built for a broad range of missions, including air assault, maritime interdiction, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), combat search and rescue, and tactical resupply. The first unit to receive the MV-75 will be the 101st Airborne Division, the Army's elite air assault force. One of the Army's priorities in selecting a replacement was reliability. After years of dealing with aging helicopters requiring frequent maintenance, the Army is demanding aircraft that can stay in the fight with minimal downtime. "Because it's inherently reliable, you don't need a mountain of gear next to you just to keep the aircraft flying," said Freeland. The MV-75 program is part of a broader Pentagon push to modernize U.S. military capabilities in an era defined by strategic competition with China. Since entering service in the late 1970s, the UH-60 Black Hawk has been the backbone of Army aviation. It has flown in nearly every major U.S. military operation over the past 40 years, from evacuating wounded troops in Grenada and Panama, to supporting combat and logistics missions in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Black Hawk was infamously involved in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, and became a household name through its depiction in the 1999 book and 2001 movie "Black Hawk Down." Its versatility, durability and ability to perform under fire made it a symbol of American air power — but after decades of use, its replacement will need to adapt to the evolving article source: Move over, Black Hawk: Army unveils the MV-75, tiltrotor aircraft to replace iconic assault chopper
Fox News
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Move over, Black Hawk: Army unveils the MV-75, tiltrotor aircraft to replace iconic assault chopper
The U.S. Army is preparing to retire its iconic Black Hawk helicopters — the workhorses of its air assault fleet for nearly five decades — in favor of a faster, more versatile aircraft built for the challenges of 21st-century warfare. Bell Aircraft's V-280 Valor, a cutting-edge tiltrotor aircraft, has been selected to begin phasing out the Black Hawk by the 2030s. Once fully deployed, it will be designated the MV-75, though a common nickname has yet to emerge. The Valor combines the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing airplane, cruising at 320 mph — nearly double the Black Hawk's top speed of 175 mph. This hybrid design, enabled by tiltrotor technology, allows the MV-75 to hover, land vertically in tight spaces, and then shift into high-speed horizontal flight. It's tailor-made for operations in the Indo-Pacific region, where U.S. forces must be able to travel long distances over the ocean and conduct rapid insertions into constrained environments, such as jungle clearings or island terrain without runways. Fox News Digital recently took a tour of Bell's Advanced Vertical Lift Center in Crystal City, Virginia. "The Army recognized that the battlefield has changed," Rob Freeland, Bell's director of government relations and public affairs, said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "The enemy now has long-range fires, advanced sensors, and robust networks. You have to move faster and strike before they do." Speed and range are at the heart of this transformation. As Freeland put it: "If you can move at twice the speed and range of your adversary, you can change the outcome before they can react." The MV-75 is designed to carry up to 14 troops and haul payloads of 10,000 pounds, making it ideal for rapid troop deployments, heavy resupply and surprise assault missions. It will also feature autonomous and semi-autonomous capabilities, a leap forward in reducing pilot workload and enabling future unmanned operations. The V-280 Valor beat out a proposed joint Sikorsky-Boeing compound helicopter platform dubbed the SB-1 Defiant-X in 2019 for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The Army has contracted Texas-based aerospace company Bell to build six prototypes, conduct the first test flight by 2026 and begin full-scale production by 2028, with delivery targeted for 2030. However, leadership has expressed interest in accelerating that schedule under the Army Transformation Initiative. "We're not waiting for a distant out-year to make this thing real," said Gen. James Mingus, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, speaking at the Mission Solutions Summit earlier this month. "We are driving to get this aircraft online years ahead of schedule." The "MV" designation reflects the aircraft's multi-mission and vertical takeoff capabilities. It's built for a broad range of missions, including air assault, maritime interdiction, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), combat search and rescue, and tactical resupply. The first unit to receive the MV-75 will be the 101st Airborne Division, the Army's elite air assault force. One of the Army's priorities in selecting a replacement was reliability. After years of dealing with aging helicopters requiring frequent maintenance, the Army is demanding aircraft that can stay in the fight with minimal downtime. "Because it's inherently reliable, you don't need a mountain of gear next to you just to keep the aircraft flying," said Freeland. The MV-75 program is part of a broader Pentagon push to modernize U.S. military capabilities in an era defined by strategic competition with China. Since entering service in the late 1970s, the UH-60 Black Hawk has been the backbone of Army aviation. It has flown in nearly every major U.S. military operation over the past 40 years, from evacuating wounded troops in Grenada and Panama, to supporting combat and logistics missions in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Black Hawk was infamously involved in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, and became a household name through its depiction in the 1999 book and 2001 movie "Black Hawk Down." Its versatility, durability and ability to perform under fire made it a symbol of American air power — but after decades of use, its replacement will need to adapt to the evolving battlefield.
