Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announces today that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be providing the nacelle structures for the 280 Valor™.

“We are pleased IAI is joining our growing team of aerospace leaders and will be a part of the team investing in our next generation tiltrotor, the Bell V-280,” said John Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter. Team Valor continues to align interests and resources on this clean sheet design, together delivering technology and innovation that reduces cost, weight and complexity in order to make the next generation of tiltrotor technology more affordable.”

IAI will produce the V-280 nacelle structures using advanced automation technologies relying on the company's broad experience in the development and manufacture of advanced aerostructures. IAI's unique manufacturing processes allow cost reduction, enabling Team Valor to deliver a high quality and affordable tiltrotor aircraft.

Joseph Weiss, president and CEO of IAI, says: “We are pleased and proud of our contribution to the Bell V-280. IAI has gained a global reputation as a leader in aerospace technologies, and we are happy to use our advanced capabilities to create this unique aerial platform.”

The transformational features of Bell Helicopter's next generation tiltrotor technologies within the Joint Multi Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program reduce risk and inform the requirements for the Defense Department's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

The clean-sheet design of the Bell V-280 Valor creates the capability to fly twice the range at double the speed of any existing helicopter. The V-280's tiltrotor technology leverages vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability into a strategic and tactical advantage for battle planning. Bell Helicopter leads the industry with combat-proven tiltrotor technology, and has invested in the future of military rotorcraft with its next generation tiltrotor.

Bell Helicopter has led the formation of Team Valor, a group of leading aerospace companies bringing the best engineering resources and industrial capabilities to meet the Department of Defense's needs. Team Valor includes Lockheed Martin, AGC, Astronics, Eaton, General Electric, GKN Aerospace, IAI Aerospace, Lord, Meggitt, Moog, Spirit AeroSystems and TRU Simulation and Training.