An MV-75 Cheyenne II tiltrotor aircraft on display in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2026. The Cheyenne is named for the Native American tribe famed for its prowess in battle, with the tribe’s approval. (US Army/Cpl. Jesus Menchaca)
MV-75 Cheyenne II Tiltrotor Hits New Production Milestone
The new Cheyenne’s wing structures require only a fraction of the labor hours required for the earlier V-22 Osprey, according to manufacturer Bell Textron.
Bell Textron has completed the first two wing structures for the US Army’s new MV-75 Cheyenne II Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). It marks a significant milestone in the new aircraft’s development, as Army Aviation looks forward to its next evolution in battle space agility.
As the Texas-based company explained in a media statement, the tiltrotor wing is the aircraft’s “structural backbone,” requiring “robust strength” and “optimized stiffness” to provide maximum survivability in combat environments. Bell described the tiltrotor technology as one of the company’s core competencies, with all key components made in-house, including the composite wing skins and spars, the tailored aluminum substructure, and final assembly. Bell’s long experience building the aging V-22 Osprey, which the MV-75 will replace, provides insights into how to approach the new aircraft.
The first MV-75 wing was completed in February, with a manufacturing process requiring 90 percent fewer labor hours than the initial V-22 wing. The second wing saw an additional 40 percent labor savings, making the MV-75’s production far more efficient and affordable than the Osprey. The next step will be mating the wing structures to the fuselage and nacelles. This is all moving toward the MV-75 project’s test phase and, ultimately, its first production run.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: Expected late 2020s (first flight prototypes targeted ~2026)
- Number Built: In development (FLRAA program; initial production planned)
- Length: ~50 ft (15.2 m)
- Wingspan: ~81 ft (24.6 m)
- Weight (MTOW): ~30,000 lbs (13,600 kg)
- Engines: Two Rolls-Royce AE 1107F turboshaft (~6,000–7,000 shp each)
- Top Speed: 300+ knots / ~345 mph / ~555 km/h
- Cruise Speed: ~280 knots / ~322 mph / ~518 km/h
- Range: ~2,100 nmi ferry / ~2,415 mi / ~3,890 km
- Combat Radius: ~500–800 nmi / ~575–920 mi / ~925–1,480 km
- Service Ceiling: ~20,000–25,000 ft (est.)
- Loadout: 14 troops or ~10,000 lbs external cargo (sling load capable)
- Aircrew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, crew chiefs)
The MV-75 Will Provide New Capabilities for the Army
The new aircraft’s capabilities will represent significant upgrades over the current air assault fleet.
The Army classifies the MV-75 as a medium-sized, vertical lift, multi-mission aircraft which combines the vertical agility of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane. The combination will allow it to fly twice as fast and twice as far as the air assault helicopters of the past, enhancing the Army’s operational reach and expanding its response capacity.
Brent G. Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, noted that the MV-75 will enable “full squad insertion at extended range, expanding medevac reach well beyond today’s golden hour, and enabling large-scale, long-range air assault operations that can reshape the battlefield.”
The MV-75 is supported by an adaptable digital backbone allowing a modular open-systems approach to upgrades and necessary modifications. It facilitates the response to emerging threats by the rapid integration of necessary modifications without costly redesigns. That capability also shortens response times in crisis scenarios and positively impacts readiness figures.
What’s in a Name? For the Cheyenne Tiltrotor, a Lot
The MV-75 is the Army’s first entirely new aerial platform since the 1980s. The aircraft originated with the Army’s 2025 Mission Design Series (MDS) MV-75. The “MV” designation refers to its multi-mission, vertical take-off characteristics, and the “75” refers to the Army’s founding in 1775.
The name “Cheyenne II” continues Army Aviation’s tradition of naming its aircraft for Native American tribes with warrior traditions. The Army invokes the Cheyenne’s history of adaptability, resilience, and determination as factors in the naming choice. Colonel Jeffrey Poquette, FLRAA’s Project Manager, said that the name “pays tribute to an indomitable warrior spirit and signals a decisive step forward for Army aviation.” The name was first applied to a 1960s-era AH-56 attack helicopter, which did not proceed to the production stage. The Cheyenne Tribe formally approved its current use.
President Donald Trump’s recent Fiscal Year 2027 military budget request gave the Army an additional $600 million for the MV-75 project. The Army confirms that the project is moving ahead quickly, but has not yet committed to a date for flight tests or when the aircraft might be operational.
About the Author: William Lawson
William Lawson is a military historian focusing on World War II and 20th century conflicts and the American Civil War. His specialty is operational level warfare, especially American amphibious doctrine. He writes on history, politics, and firearms for multiple publications and historical journals. He serves on the editorial advisory board for the Saber & Scroll Journal and Military History Chronicles and is a member of the Society for Military History and the American Historical Association. Lawson is based in Virginia.
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