Unveiling Valor

Bell Helicopter unveiled its tiltrotor helicopter design -- the V-280 Valor -- that it submitted last month to the Army's Joint Multi-Role technology demonstrator competition, according to company briefing slides released today.

Industry submitted at least four proposals to the Army for a chance to build a JMR technology demonstrator air vehicle that will guide possible designs and concepts for the service's Future Vertical Lift helicopter expected to take flight around 2035, according to company sources. Of the proposals, two designs will be selected to be built and flown during the demonstrator phase. The Army is expected to make awards in late 2013. The demonstrators would be ready for flight in 2017.

While Boeing and Sikorsky announced earlier this year that they would join forces to submit a design proposal for a JMR demonstrator aircraft centered around Sikorsky's X2 helicopter technology, Bell is taking a turn to tout its offering.

Bell's V-280 Valor features an advanced tiltrotor design that can achieve cruise speeds of 280 knots, has "turbo-like ride quality," is fuel efficient, has an advanced composite fuselage and "superior high-speed handling qualities," the slides note. The helicopter design doubles the range capability of current platforms, the document shows.

Bell and Boeing were awarded, as a team, a $4 million, 18-month study contract to look at tiltrotor designs for the JMR effort in 2011. Boeing has experience building the V-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft flown by the Marines and the Air Force. Bell was also awarded another JMR study contract independently. Sikorsky and AVX Aircraft Company were the remaining companies to receive JMR study contracts.

EADS and AVX Aircraft Co. also submitted demonstrator designs to the Army last month. So far, EADS has chosen not to discuss details of its proposed design. AVX submitted a design centered around its coaxial rotor and ducted fan technology, company spokesman Mike Cox said in February.