Announced April 15, the United States Army’s next-generation MV-75 multi-purpose tiltrotor aircraft will carry the Native American name “Cheyenne II,” in honor of one of the Native American tribes.
The MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft is the Army’s next-generation multirole vertical lift aircraft. It is one of the Army’s top modernization priorities and is slated to replace part of the service’s Black Hawk fleet.
The U.S. Army's first clean sheet rotorcraft in a generation, the MV-75 FLRAA delivers twice the speed and range of the current fleet – transforming the Army's operational capability.
Army officials announced the aircraft’s new name on April 15 during the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Developed as the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA, the MV-75 Cheyenne II delivers pivotal aviation capabilities to the joint force, flying twice as far and twice as fast as the current rotary aviation fleet, the Army said in a news release.
The medium-sized, multirole aircraft combines the versatility of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane, making it a game changer for Army aviation, the Army said.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II platform is based on V-280 Valor technologies. Unlike the older V-22 Osprey, only the rotors rotate in this aircraft, rather than the entire engine, which simplifies the design, reduces weight, and increases reliability.
Brent Ingraham, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, said:
“The Cheyenne people represent a resilient warrior culture and embody the key attributes of the MV-75—speed, reach, lethality and adaptability,”
“I am honored to be part of this historic occasion as we officially name our multi-mission tiltrotor aircraft.”
The Cheyenne tribes, known for their adaptability, resilience and strong warrior culture, inhabited the Great Plains for over 400 years, the Army said in its news release.
Proficient hunters and gatherers, the Cheyenne today are divided into two federally recognized tribes: the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes in Oklahoma and the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Montana.
“Representing the future of Army aviation, the MV-75 embodies the strength and versatility of the Cheyenne tribes,” said Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, portfolio acquisition executive for maneuver air and commanding general of the Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, Alabama.
“This aircraft will revolutionize how the Army fights and wins, delivering unmatched capabilities to the joint force and ensuring we maintain a decisive advantage on the battlefield.”
Before selecting the name Cheyenne II, the Army followed a “deliberate and disciplined process” and evaluated nominations from more than 500 tribes, Native American figures and terms, the Army said in the news release.
The name previously was used in the late 1960s for the AH-56 Cheyenne, which was developed to be an advanced, high-speed attack helicopter. That program did not move forward.
However, the number “75” in the designation also has symbolic significance — it reflects the year the US Army was founded, 1775.
MV-75 Cheyenne II Specifications:
Built with a Modular Open Systems Approach and a plug-and-play digital backbone, the Cheyenne II is “engineered to evolve,” allowing for seamless integration of advanced technologies throughout its lifecycle, the Army said.
“The MV-75 is a transformational aircraft that will provide our joint force with unparalleled versatility to dominate a wide array of mission sets,” said Col. Jeffrey Poquette, project manager for the MV-75 Cheyenne II. “We are honored to have the Cheyenne tribes’ approval to use their name, which embodies the power of this aircraft.”
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, has been awarded multiple contracts from Bell Textron Inc., to deliver five critical systems for the U.S. Army's MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).
Collins Aerospace will provide several of these systems via commercial acquisition authorities. The five systems include
- Main power generation
- Interconnect drive system
- SmartProbe® air data system
- Cockpit seating
- Ice protection system
Initially, the MV-75 was expected to enter service in 2030, but the timeline has recently been revised, and deployment is now expected to begin as early as 2028.
Although the MV-75 is being developed as a replacement for the UH-60 Black Hawk, the US Army currently views it as a complement to its existing fleet.
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