Collins Aerospace Supplies Five Systems for US Army MV-75 FLRAA Rotorcraft

This article is based on an official press release from Collins Aerospace.

Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX, has secured multiple contracts from Bell Textron to supply five essential systems for the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). The announcement, made on April 13, 2026, marks a significant step forward in the supply chain development of the Army’s next-generation rotorcraft.

The MV-75 FLRAA represents the U.S. Army’s first clean-sheet rotorcraft design in a generation. According to the official press release, the new military-aircraft is projected to deliver twice the speed and range of the military’s current fleet, fundamentally transforming operational capabilities for future missions.

By leveraging commercial acquisition authorities, Collins Aerospace aims to integrate military-grade commercial technology into the FLRAA program. This procurement approach is designed to accelerate delivery and ensure the long-term sustainment of the aircraft over the coming decades.

Critical Systems and Manufacturing

Under the newly announced agreements, Collins Aerospace will provide a suite of five critical components for the MV-75. As detailed in the company’s statement, these systems include the main power generation, the interconnect drive system, the SmartProbe® air data system, cockpit seating, and the ice protection system.

Production and development work for these systems will be distributed across multiple U.S. facilities to support the program’s scale. The company noted that operations will take place in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Leadership Perspectives

Executives from both companies emphasized the importance of readiness, advanced performance, and collaborative engineering in bringing the MV-75 to fruition.

“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,” said Troy Brunk, president of Collins Aerospace, in the press release. “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.”

“We are happy to work with Collins Aerospace and add their expertise to Team FLRAA,” stated Ryan Ehinger, senior vice president and program director at Bell. “Together, we are 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.”

Modernizing the Army’s Rotorcraft Fleet

The MV-75 FLRAA program is built around modern design principles, specifically utilizing digital engineering and a modular open systems approach. As outlined in the press release, these methodologies are intended to maximize efficiency and maintain flexibility throughout the entire lifecycle of the aircraft, allowing for easier upgrades as technology evolves.

The integration of Collins Aerospace’s systems is a key component of Bell’s broader strategy to meet the Army’s stringent requirements for speed, range, and reliability in future combat scenarios.

AirPro News analysis

We note that the selection of Collins Aerospace for these five specific systems highlights a growing trend of utilizing commercial acquisition authorities in major defense programs. By adapting “military-grade commercial technology,” defense contractors can often bypass some of the traditional, slower procurement bottlenecks associated with ground-up military development. Furthermore, the geographic spread of the manufacturing work across seven states underscores the broad industrial base required to support a major clean-sheet rotorcraft program like the MV-75 FLRAA. The explicit mention of a 50-year sustainment lifecycle also reflects the Pentagon’s long-term strategic planning and lifecycle cost considerations for this platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What systems is Collins Aerospace providing for the MV-75 FLRAA?

Collins Aerospace is contracted to provide the main power generation, interconnect drive system, SmartProbe® air data system, cockpit seating, and ice protection system.

How does the MV-75 FLRAA compare to the current Army fleet?

According to the press release, the MV-75 is designed to deliver twice the speed and range of the Army’s current rotorcraft fleet.

Where will the manufacturing work take place?

Work for these five systems will be completed across facilities in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Sources

• Collins Aerospace Press Release