GE Aerospace Announces Partnership with Bell Textron for Next-Gen Military Aircraft Systems

GE Aerospace has revealed its collaboration with Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., in the development of a cutting-edge suite of technologies for the Bell V-280 Valor, an innovative vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. This collaboration comes in the wake of the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program contract award, highlighting the pivotal role the V-280 Valor will play in ensuring battlefield superiority for the U.S. Army and its allies. The systems being developed by GE Aerospace include the Common Open Architecture Digital Backbone (COADB), Voice and Data Recorder, and the Health Awareness System (HAS).

The Bell V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor aircraft designed by Bell Helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program, was unveiled in 2013 at the Army Aviation Association of America’s Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas. Its advanced capabilities in terms of speed, range, payload, and endurance will empower the U.S. Army to excel in multi-domain missions.

The COADB project builds upon the knowledge gained from the Army’s Mission System Architecture Demonstration (MSAD), demonstrating the ability to rapidly integrate multiple operationally relevant sensors and equipment packages. Meanwhile, the Voice and Data Recorder is a comprehensive system designed to acquire, transfer, process, and analyze flight and voice data, supporting the entire mission cycle with a focus on safety, maintenance, and flight quality assurance. The Health Awareness System, based on years of commercial and military operation experience, has consistently saved operators substantial costs and increased mission readiness through predictive maintenance.

By integrating these advanced capabilities into the Bell V-280 Valor and Bell 360 Invictus as part of the FLRAA and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programs, Bell and GE Aerospace aim to establish industry standards for rapid, cost-effective upgrades in capability as technology and mission requirements evolve.

Ryan Ehinger, senior vice president and program director for FLRAA at Bell, emphasized, “This collaborative approach provides the Army a vendor-agnostic path to explore new systems and capabilities, delivering soldiers the right tools for success in multi-domain missions.”

Amy Gowder, president and CEO of Defense & Systems for GE Aerospace, added, “Our open systems technologies and experience provide the customer with the ability to make aircraft system modifications for this next generation of vertical lift aircraft. This changes how aircraft are updated and maintained, and it ensures that our soldiers have an advantage on the battlefield.”

GE Aerospace, a subsidiary of General Electric, has a rich history in aircraft engine manufacturing and is a prominent supplier of engines for a majority of commercial aircraft. This partnership with Bell Textron underscores GE Aerospace’s commitment to advancing the state-of-the-art in aviation technology, particularly in the defense sector. As the collaboration unfolds, it is poised to contribute significantly to the future of military aviation and national defense capabilities.