헬리콥터 MV-75 (V-280), 2026년 말 시험비행용 기체 인도 예정

[위종민]

벨이 MV-75 틸트로터 헬기 시험비행용 기체를  2026년 말 미육군에 인도할 예정이라고 합니다. 

미 육군은 첫 번째 MV-75 틸트로터 헬기가 시험을 위해 2026년 말까지 인도될 것이라고 밝혔다
“우리는 새로운 틸트로터 항공기를 갖게 됐고, 원래는 2031년, 2032년에 인도될 예정이었지만 우리는 ‘아니, 우리는 이걸 아주 빨리 필요로 한다’고 말했다”고 육군참모총장이 말했다.

작성자 Carley Welch
2026년 1월 14일 오전 10시 21분

공유

Bell의 FLRAA 프로그램은 MOSA와 디지털 백본이 어떻게 신속한 업그레이드와 신기술 통합을 가능하게 하는지를 보여준다. (Bell 사진)

워싱턴 — 랜디 조지 육군참모총장은 새로운 MV-75 틸트로터 장거리 강습 헬리콥터를 병사들에게 인도하기 위한 일정이 앞당겨진 것을 높이 평가하며, 이 기체가 올해 말까지 비행 “편대”에 합류할 것으로 기대한다고 말했다.

MV-75는 육군이 2022년에 미래 장거리 강습 항공기(FLRAA) 정규 사업의 기종으로 선정한 항공기로, 육군에 따르면 다른 강습 헬리콥터들보다 “두 배 더 멀리” 그리고 “두 배 더 빠르게” 비행하도록 설계되었다.

조지는 월요일 타운홀 행사에서 이렇게 말했다. 해당 발언이 담긴 영상은 화요일 온라인에 게시됐다. “우리는 새로운 틸트로터 항공기를 갖게 됐고, 원래는 2031년, 2032년에 인도될 예정이었지만 우리는 ‘아니, 우리는 이걸 아주 빨리 필요로 한다’고 말했다. 올해 말에는 실제로 그것들이 편대로 비행하는 모습을 보게 될 것이다.”

이후 육군 대변인은 해당 항공기가 연말까지 완전 운용 상태에 이르지는 않겠지만, 2026년 말이나 2027년 초에 시험을 위해 기체를 인수할 것으로 예상한다고 설명했다. 대변인은 배치에 대한 새로운 목표 날짜는 제시하지 않았다. MV-75를 생산하고 있는 Bell은 논평을 위해 Breaking Defense를 다시 육군으로 돌렸다.

지난봄 조지는 의원들에게 육군이 Bell과 함께 인도 일정을 2028년으로 앞당기기 위한 가속화 계획을 마련하고 있다고 말했으며, 또 다른 육군 고위 관계자는 첫 번째 시제기가 2027 회계연도에 비행하는 것을 목표로 하고 있다고 밝혔다. 그러나 화요일 조지의 발언에 따르면, 헬리콥터의 전체 일정은 더 빠르게 줄어들 수도 있다.

육군의 변혁 이니셔티브는 FLRAA 프로그램을 항공 분야 우선순위 목록의 최상단으로 끌어올렸다. 이 프로그램은 약 700억 달러의 비용이 들 것으로 추산되며, 다른 항공 프로그램들로부터 자금을 전용할 가능성이 있다.

예를 들어, Breaking Defense는 이전에 ATI의 일환으로 육군이 제너럴 아토믹스의 그레이 이글 드론 구매를 중단하고, AH-64D 아파치를 퇴역시키며, 미래 전술 무인 항공기 시스템 경쟁을 중단하고 있다고 보도했다. 또한 FLRAA 자금을 마련하기 위해 제너럴 일렉트릭의 개선형 터빈 엔진 프로그램(ITEP) 개발을 종료하는 방안과 HADES 항공기의 수량을 줄이는 방안도 검토 중이다.

presented by

Army says first MV-75 tiltrotor helo to be delivered by end of 2026 for testing - Breaking Defense

Army says first MV-75 tiltrotor helo to be delivered by end of 2026 for testing - Breaking Defense

Army says first MV-75 tiltrotor helo to be delivered by end of 2026 for testing

"We have a new tiltrotor aircraft, and it was supposed to be delivered in 2031, 2032 and we said, 'No, we need it, you know, very quickly,'" the Army chief of staff said.

By Carley Welch on January 14, 2026 10:21 am

Share

Bell’s FLRAA program showcases how MOSA and the digital backbone can enable rapid upgrades and integration of new technologies. (Bell photo)

WASHINGTON — Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George hailed the accelerated timeline for getting the new MV-75 tilt-rotor long-range assault helicopter to soldiers, saying he expects the bird to join flying “formations” by the end of this year.

The MV-75 was selected by the Army in 2022 to be the service’s pick for its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program of record — an aircraft that’s designed to fly “twice as far” and “twice as fast” as other assault helos, according to the Army. 

“We have a new tiltrotor aircraft, and it was supposed to be delivered in 2031, 2032 and we said, ‘No, we need it, you know, very quickly,'” George said Monday during a town hall event, a video of which was published online Tuesday. “At the end of this year, we will actually have those flying out in formations.”

A service spokesperson later clarified that aircraft would not become fully operational by the end of the year, but that the service expected to accept an airframe for testing by late 2026 or early 2027. The spokesperson did not offer a new target date for fielding the aircraft. Bell, which is producing the MV-75, referred Breaking Defense back to the Army for comment.

Last spring George told lawmakers that the service was working with Bell to create an acceleration plan to move the delivery timeline up to 2028, and another Army senior leader said the service was aiming to fly the first prototype in fiscal year 2027. But based on George’s comments Tuesday, the overall timeline for the helicopter could shrink even faster.

The Army’s Transformation Initiative boosted the FLRAA program to the top of the list of the service’s aviation priorities. It’s estimated to cost around $70 billion and is slated to potentially take funds away from other aviation programs. 

For example, Breaking Defense previously reported that as part of the ATI, the Army is halting buys of General Atomics’ Gray Eagle drone, shelving AH-64D Apaches, and stopping the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System competition. It’s also considering ending General Electric’s development of the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) and maybe reducing the quantity of HADES aircraft to fund FLRAA.

presented by