The US army chose a new helicopter. Will Israel reconsider the V-22 now?
Countries like Israel and other American partners, whether Japan or countries in the Gulf, all will want a new generation of helicopters.
Bell V-280 Valor hover demo, 2019 Alliance Air Show (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The US Army said
this week it had awarded the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract
to Bell Textron. This is an important and major investment by the army
in a new helicopter that will replace thousands of Blackhawks over time.
The army initiated this program back in 2019. It
might have ramifications for US partners abroad and what types of
helicopters other countries will be acquiring in the future. Israel is one of the countries that need new helicopters.
First,
let’s understand what the US procurement means for the helicopter
industry and the future. According to the US Army, “FLRAA will expand
the depth of the battlefield by extending the reach of air assault
missions and enabling ground forces to converge through decentralized
operations at extended distances. FLRAA’s inherent reach and standoff
capabilities will ensure mission success through tactical maneuver at
operational and strategic distances.”
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The V-280 Valor comes in for a roll-on landing during its first public flight demonstration at Bell's Amarillo, Texas, production facility. (Jen Judson/Staff Defense News)
According to Defense News, “in a Dec. 5 statement, Scott Donnelly,
Textron’s chief executive, said the company is ‘honored that the US Army
has selected the Bell V-280 Valor as its next-generation assault
aircraft. We intend to honor that trust by building a truly remarkable
and transformational weapon system to meet the Army’s mission
requirements.’”
The
V-280 is a tiltrotor aircraft, meaning that it takes off like a
helicopter but then the wings tilt and the rotors face forward, so it
can cruise along like an aircraft. In terms of legacy and evolution, it
looks like a V-22 Osprey, the Bell Helicopter that first flew in 1989
and is used by the US Marines.
Bell V-280 Valor high speed cruise demo, 2019 Alliance Air Show (credit: Wikimedia Commons)The
V-22 can have a crew of four and take up to 24 troops, with up to
20,000 lb of internal cargo and another 15,000 carried externally. The
V-280 may be faster than the V-22 and have a longer range, but it will
have less takeoff weight and carry fewer people.
Where
the V-22 can take some two dozen soldiers, the V-280 can handle 14.
Compared to a Black Hawk the V-280 will have a much longer range.
Defense News noted that “the service wants FLRAA to be capable of
traveling roughly 2,440 nautical miles (or 2,810 miles) without
refueling, but also to be agile enough to maneuver troops into dangerous
hot spots.” This would be a very long range in terms of capability for a
helicopter.
The US Army said this week it had awarded the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract to Bell Textron. This is an important and major investment by the army in a new helicopter that will replace thousands of Blackhawks over time.
The army initiated this program back in 2019. It might have ramifications for US partners abroad and what types of helicopters other countries will be acquiring in the future. Israel is one of the countries that need new helicopters.
First, let’s understand what the US procurement means for the helicopter industry and the future. According to the US Army, “FLRAA will expand the depth of the battlefield by extending the reach of air assault missions and enabling ground forces to converge through decentralized operations at extended distances. FLRAA’s inherent reach and standoff capabilities will ensure mission success through tactical maneuver at operational and strategic distances.”
The V-280 Valor comes in for a roll-on landing during its first public flight demonstration at Bell's Amarillo, Texas, production facility. (Jen Judson/Staff Defense News)
According to Defense News, “in a Dec. 5 statement, Scott Donnelly, Textron’s chief executive, said the company is ‘honored that the US Army has selected the Bell V-280 Valor as its next-generation assault aircraft. We intend to honor that trust by building a truly remarkable and transformational weapon system to meet the Army’s mission requirements.’”
The V-280 is a tiltrotor aircraft, meaning that it takes off like a helicopter but then the wings tilt and the rotors face forward, so it can cruise along like an aircraft. In terms of legacy and evolution, it looks like a V-22 Osprey, the Bell Helicopter that first flew in 1989 and is used by the US Marines.
The V-22 can have a crew of four and take up to 24 troops, with up to 20,000 lb of internal cargo and another 15,000 carried externally. The V-280 may be faster than the V-22 and have a longer range, but it will have less takeoff weight and carry fewer people.
Where the V-22 can take some two dozen soldiers, the V-280 can handle 14. Compared to a Black Hawk the V-280 will have a much longer range. Defense News noted that “the service wants FLRAA to be capable of traveling roughly 2,440 nautical miles (or 2,810 miles) without refueling, but also to be agile enough to maneuver troops into dangerous hot spots.” This would be a very long range in terms of capability for a helicopter.
So why should Israel care?
Israel, meanwhile, continues to have a helicopter problem. It has wanted to replace aging helicopters for many years.
In late 2021 Israel decided to purchase a dozen of the Lockheed
Martin-Sikorsky heavy lift CH-53K King Stallions for the air force.
Israel also flies the F-35 which is made by Lockheed Martin.
In addition, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems recently said it was teaming with Lockheed on laser air defenses
based on Israel’s Iron Beam. Thus the Israel connection and current
work with Lockheed is impressive. The price tag for the CH-53s is
impressive at several billion dollars.
Israel
currently operates UH-60 Black Hawks and Sikorsky CH-53s, the latter
known as the Yasur. Israel also has Apache attack helicopters. While the
Black Hawks Israel has are more modern, the Yasurs are aging. Back in
2019, Israel had briefly grounded its fleet of Yasurs.
Around
a decade ago, Israel was looking to improve its helicopter fleet and
took a look at the V-22 Osprey. At the time, this cutting-edge
helicopter was becoming more mature as a platform and system that would
enable Israel and other US partners to conduct unique missions.
Israel
came close to purchasing the V-22, but the agreement sat unsigned for
years and became something of a long odyssey in the defense
establishment. Meanwhile, Japan became the only foreign customer to
acquire the V-22, receiving its first helicopter in 2020.
The
V-22 isn’t the only case where Japan and Israel both expressed interest
in a new American product, only to see Japan move forward and Israel
prevaricate. Japan also purchased the KC-46 Pegasus refuelers,
a plane that Israel also has finally procured, but which Israel waited
years to finally make a decision. The billion-dollar deal for the
KC-46As was signed earlier this year. Israel moving forward on these
important procurement decisions has been one of the key legacies of Benny Gantz’s era at the Defense Ministry.
However,
the V-22 issue has not moved forward. Back in 2020, Israel HaYom said
that the defense establishment was putting the Osprey option back on the
table. “After deciding several months ago to forego procuring the V-22
Osprey aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing due to budgetary
restrictions, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Aviv Kochavi on Sunday said they intend to re-examine the matter.”
Courtesy of https://www.bellflight.com/products/bell-v-280
Will Israel budge due to the US Army's decision?
Israel, meanwhile, continues to have a helicopter problem. It has wanted to replace aging helicopters for many years. In late 2021 Israel decided to purchase a dozen of the Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky heavy lift CH-53K King Stallions for the air force. Israel also flies the F-35 which is made by Lockheed Martin.
In addition, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems recently said it was teaming with Lockheed on laser air defenses based on Israel’s Iron Beam. Thus the Israel connection and current work with Lockheed is impressive. The price tag for the CH-53s is impressive at several billion dollars.
Israel currently operates UH-60 Black Hawks and Sikorsky CH-53s, the latter known as the Yasur. Israel also has Apache attack helicopters. While the Black Hawks Israel has are more modern, the Yasurs are aging. Back in 2019, Israel had briefly grounded its fleet of Yasurs.
Around a decade ago, Israel was looking to improve its helicopter fleet and took a look at the V-22 Osprey. At the time, this cutting-edge helicopter was becoming more mature as a platform and system that would enable Israel and other US partners to conduct unique missions.
Israel came close to purchasing the V-22, but the agreement sat unsigned for years and became something of a long odyssey in the defense establishment. Meanwhile, Japan became the only foreign customer to acquire the V-22, receiving its first helicopter in 2020.
The V-22 isn’t the only case where Japan and Israel both expressed interest in a new American product, only to see Japan move forward and Israel prevaricate. Japan also purchased the KC-46 Pegasus refuelers, a plane that Israel also has finally procured, but which Israel waited years to finally make a decision. The billion-dollar deal for the KC-46As was signed earlier this year. Israel moving forward on these important procurement decisions has been one of the key legacies of Benny Gantz’s era at the Defense Ministry.
However, the V-22 issue has not moved forward. Back in 2020, Israel HaYom said that the defense establishment was putting the Osprey option back on the table. “After deciding several months ago to forego procuring the V-22 Osprey aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing due to budgetary restrictions, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi on Sunday said they intend to re-examine the matter.”
Will Israel budge due to the US Army's decision?
It's
unclear now if the US Army’s decision on the V-280 might influence
Israel to take another look at tiltrotor options for Israel’s helicopter
fleet. These types of helicopters may be the wave of the future, not
just for the US Army and Marines, but also for other services around the
world. It’s not clear though so far what other US partners may be
interested in these new futuristic helicopters.
The US is also considering a major contract for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Sikorsky and Bell have both presented their visions for a helicopter
and the US Army is supposed to make a decision soon. By the end of the
decade, these new futuristic helicopters should be in service. These
decisions may also impact Israel’s choices regarding attack helicopters.
Countries like
Israel and other American partners, whether Japan or countries in the
Gulf, all will want a new generation of helicopters. These systems are
costly but the conflict in Ukraine is showing countries that they need
to rapidly upgrade their systems to prepare for the next scenario.
The
era when countries could sit and relax with old models that date from
the 1980s or 1990s is ending. When it comes to helicopters, the US isn’t
the only manufacturer; military helicopters are manufactured in Europe,
South Korea and other places.
Bell’s V-280 Valor Tiltrotor Picked As Army's Next Gen Helicopter to Black Hawk Replacement
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It's unclear now if the US Army’s decision on the V-280 might influence Israel to take another look at tiltrotor options for Israel’s helicopter fleet. These types of helicopters may be the wave of the future, not just for the US Army and Marines, but also for other services around the world. It’s not clear though so far what other US partners may be interested in these new futuristic helicopters.
The US is also considering a major contract for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. Sikorsky and Bell have both presented their visions for a helicopter and the US Army is supposed to make a decision soon. By the end of the decade, these new futuristic helicopters should be in service. These decisions may also impact Israel’s choices regarding attack helicopters.
Countries like Israel and other American partners, whether Japan or countries in the Gulf, all will want a new generation of helicopters. These systems are costly but the conflict in Ukraine is showing countries that they need to rapidly upgrade their systems to prepare for the next scenario.
The era when countries could sit and relax with old models that date from the 1980s or 1990s is ending. When it comes to helicopters, the US isn’t the only manufacturer; military helicopters are manufactured in Europe, South Korea and other places.
Bell’s V-280 Valor Tiltrotor Picked As Army's Next Gen Helicopter to Black Hawk Replacement
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