Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Development

The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Development (PE 0605241A) program is a key component of the Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) modernization priority. This initiative aims to develop a new generation of vertical lift aircraft to replace and surpass the capabilities of the current fleet, supporting multi-domain operations and joint warfighter needs. The program is designed to deliver increased maneuverability, range, speed, payload, survivability, and reliability, while also reducing the logistics footprint. The Department of Defense established FVL to ensure long-term industrial base viability and to guide vertical lift technology advancement for the next 25 to 40 years.

The primary project within this program element focuses on continued research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities. The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) weapon system is intended to provide Combatant Commanders with enhanced deterrence, power projection, and tactical capabilities at both operational and strategic distances. The aircraft will support a wide range of missions, including air assault, urban security, maritime interdiction, medical evacuation, disaster relief, tactical resupply, direct action, noncombatant evacuation, and combat search and rescue. The program is structured to meet the needs of the Army, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the broader Joint Force in contested environments.

In FY 2026, the program's objectives include completing the Critical Design Review (CDR), continuing the build of prototype aircraft, initiating developmental testing, incorporating design updates based on test results, and beginning production planning. The program also supports integration and developmental testing of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), such as communications, navigation, sensors, and survivability systems. These activities are essential for maturing the aircraft design and ensuring it meets operational requirements before entering full-rate production.

A dedicated effort within the program focuses on designing and integrating medical evacuation capabilities into the FLRAA platform. In FY 2026, development begins for the MEDEVAC Mission Equipment Package (MEP), which includes advanced sensors for casualty acquisition in obscured environments and a modular Patient Handling System (PHS) with supplemental cabin temperature control. The goal is to enable rapid installation and reconfiguration of MEDEVAC equipment, ensuring the aircraft can quickly reach, evacuate, and provide critical care to patients on future battlefields.

The program employs a hybrid acquisition strategy that leverages both Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) and Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathways, as outlined in DoDI 5000.80 and 5000.85. This approach builds on risk reduction and technology maturation efforts from previous projects, such as the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) and Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) phases. The Army competitively awarded the FLRAA Weapon System Development contract in December 2022, emphasizing modular open systems architecture (MOSA) and digital engineering to enhance affordability, sustainability, and maintainability throughout the aircraft's lifecycle.

Supporting activities in FY 2026 include program management, engineering and technical services, logistics and support analysis, airworthiness certification, and test and evaluation planning. Key agencies involved are PEO Aviation, AMCOM ALC, CCDC AvMC, and the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, with Bell Textron, Inc. serving as the prime contractor for prototype development and manufacturing. The program also continues to refine its digital backbone and data strategy, positioning FLRAA as a pilot for digital engineering and lifecycle intellectual property management within the Army.