Bell demonstrates Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Virtual Prototype

Today, Bell Textron announced a program status update and demonstration of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Virtual Prototype, joined by the U.S. Army Program Manager FLRAA office and members of Team FLRAA.

"I am thrilled to see the first piece of hardware that will be delivered on the Army's FLRAA program," said Col. Jeffrey Poquette, FLRAA Project Manager. "By leveraging Congressional authorities, not only will we deliver two FLRAA virtual prototype cockpit simulators but also accelerate the broader FLRAA program by four years. Once delivered they will provide our user community, Army pilots, with the ability to experiment with tiltrotor tactics and ultimately develop doctrine for its future use. Additionally, we will take the feedback received from our users and seek to incorporate what is most important to them into the final design of the aircraft. Overall, this represents great progress for the FLRAA program."

The Virtual Prototype, a simulator based on a digital twin of the FLRAA weapon system, is an element of the Army's accelerated acquisition approach, which leverages the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) process. The two Virtual Prototypes will support accelerated user familiarization, feedback, and development of TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures). They are expected to be converted into Flight Training Devices (FTDs) over time.

(article source: Bell Textron / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: Bell Textron)