GKN to make V-tail for Bell V-280 Valor

Bell Helicopter — a Textron Inc company — has announced that GKN Aerospace will design, develop and manufacture the V-tail aero-structure and ‘ruddervators’ for the Bell V-280 Valor aircraft. Kevin Cummings, CEO of GKN Aerospace North America, said: “We are proud to play such an important role in the development of the V-280 Valor airframe, which represents the next generation in vertical-lift technology.”

Team Valor is comprised of leading aerospace companies, bringing together the best engineering resources, industrial capabilities and expertise in the industry to meet the Army’s needs.

Additional team members will be announced in the coming weeks. Bell Helicopter’s third generation tilt-rotor will have increased maintainability, component and systems reliability, plus twice the speed and range of its predecessor. It will also have ‘unmatched operational agility’ to perform a multitude of vertical-lift missions.