Bell Textron’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor assault aircraft will replace the Army’s Black Hawk combat attack helicopter fleet. It will now be known as the U.S. Army’s Bell MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft. [Photo: Bell]

Collins Aerospace—an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business with a significant North Texas presence—has been awarded multiple contracts from Fort Worth-based Bell Textron to deliver five critical systems for the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).

Last month, Bell announced an April construction start for its new $632 million factory in North Fort Worth, which will build parts for the FLRAA—a tilt-rotor aircraft that replaces the famed Black Hawk helicopter, flying twice as fast and twice as far while providing superior air assault and MEDEVAC capability. The Army’s contract award to Bell Textron could potentially be worth around $70 billion across the life of the MV-75 fleet, Bell has said.

Bell can’t do this alone, so it’s contracted Collins to deliver five critical systems for the aircraft, including cockpit seating; main power generation; an interconnect drive system; the SmartProbe air data system; and an ice protection system.

Troy Brunk, president of Charlotte, N.C.-based Collins Aerospace, said “the Army’s new generation of rotorcraft needs to fly farther and faster, and we’re committed to helping Bell accelerate delivery of that advanced performance with Collins’ military-grade commercial technology.”

“We have ready-now manufacturing and service capabilities around the globe to ensure the Army can urgently deliver, modernize and sustain the MV-75 FLRAA for the next 50 years,” Brunk added in a statement. 

Collins Aerospace operates facilities in Richardson and Haltom City. Last July, Collins announced that it would expand its aerospace manufacturing and R&D operations in Richardson, creating more than 570 new jobs and more than $57 million in capital investment.

Adding ‘expertise’ to the project

Ryan Ehinger, SVP and program director at Bell, said his company is happy to work with Collins Aerospace and “add their expertise to Team FLRAA.”

“Together, we’re committed to delivering a high-performing, reliable aircraft that will provide the U.S. Army with the critical capability it needs for the future fight,” he added in a statement.

The FLRAA program uses digital engineering and a modular open systems approach to ensure maximum efficiency and flexibility throughout the aircraft lifecycle, RTX said.

Work for these systems by Collins will be completed in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and West Virginia, RTX added.

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R E A D   N E X T

The factory in AllianceTexas will build parts for the U.S. Army’s new Bell MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, which replaces the famed Black Hawk helicopter. The project, which was awarded in late 2024, could potentially be worth around $70 billion across the life of the MV-75 fleet.

Lisa Atherton—who has been president and CEO of Fort Worth-based Bell since April 2023—will join Textron’s board upon assuming her new role at the parent company on Jan. 4. Taking the CEO helm at Bell will be current chief commercial officer Danny Maldonado.

The company is celebrating with a free pop-up museum at the AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas — and a $250 billion bet on what comes next.

The award is the latest signal of growing momentum for the North Texas defense tech company, which announced a state- and federal-backed deal to scale manufacturing in Oklahoma in May.

The Addison-based company says new investment from European VC firm Presto Ventures and global industrial and tech company Czechoslovak Group will help boost defense supply chain resilience—and support readiness for NATO and allied forces.