Bell Textron has selected Honeywell’s 36-150 auxiliary power unit (APU) and Attune cooling system for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft programme.

The 36-150 APU will support mission readiness by supplying secondary electrical and hydraulic power, while Attune will offer lightweight, low-maintenance thermal management for cabins and electronics.

“FLRAA will deliver new long-range high speed transport capabilities to the U.S. Army helping to ensure force readiness against emerging threats,” says Honeywell Aerospace Technologies president of Control Systems Rich DeGraff. “We are confident that our proven 36-150 APU and Honeywell Attune system will exceed the expectations of the Army throughout the FLRAA contract and subsequent active-duty service that will last beyond 2050.”

The 36-150 APU already supports over 20 commercial and military platforms, including the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. Over 10,000 units have been delivered to date.

Attune offers up to 35 per cent weight reduction and 20 per cent efficiency gain over conventional cooling systems and uses Solstice zd refrigerant for lower environmental impact. It has already been introduced into commercial aircraft and will provide Bell with a lower-risk technical solution.