Spirit completes fuselage for V-280 Valor
Spirit AeroSystems has completed construction of the first fuselage for Bell Helicopter's V-280 Valor aircraft, the company announced on 22 September.
The composite fuselage will now be shipped to Bell's Amarillo, Texas, facility for final assembly.
The V-280 is Bell Helicopter's demonstrator aircraft for the US Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme, which aims to replace Black Hawk and Apache fleets from the mid-2030s.
Larry Lawson, president and CEO, Spirit, said: ‘Delivering a fuselage from design to completion in 22 months is an amazing accomplishment. Spirit's unique capability to design, build and deliver with the highest quality and lowest possible cost make us a great partner on revolutionary programmes like the Bell V-280.’
Phil Anderson, senior vice president, Spirit Defense, said: ‘Spirit AeroSystems is proud to be an investing member of Team Valor with 10 other premier aerospace companies. Together we are helping the department of defence inform requirements and reduce risk on a new development programme while at the same time providing the capabilities to win on the battlefield.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
