The American company Bell Textron won the competition of the US Army to create a promising helicopter as part of the Future Long-Range Attack Aircraft (FLRAA) program. Defense News writes that the convertible V-280 Valor will replace the UH-60 Black Hawk multipurpose helicopters.

The value of the contract is estimated at $1.3 billion. The new helicopters are expected to replace approximately 2,000 Black Hawk and 1,200 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters by 2030. The V-280 will perform the duties of multi-purpose and attack helicopters.

The army plans to acquire a helicopter with a flight range of more than 4,500 kilometers and a high maneuverability. During tests, the V-280 developed a cruising speed of more than 560 kilometers per hour.

The FLRAA program also included Sikorsky-Boeing, which developed the SB-1 Defiant helicopter. The V-280 made its maiden flight in 2017, and the Defiant in 2019. The first prototypes of the V-280 Valor will be delivered to the army by 2025.