Bell Helicopter [TXT] yesterday unveiled the Bell V-280 ValorTM, it is tiltrotor offering for the Joint Multi Role/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Technology Demonstrator (JMR/TD).

“The introduction of the Bell V-280 Valor underscores our commitment to our military customers,” said John Garrison, president and CEO at Bell Helicopter, at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America’s  Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas.

“The Bell V-280’s unmatched capabilities in speed, range and payload, and its operational agility combine to deliver the best value for the U.S Army,” he said in a statement. “This aircraft is the most advanced and operationally effective vertical lift solution, providing the Warfighter a decisive advantage.”

The company said the Bell V-280 Valor, Bell Helicopter’s third generation tiltrotor, offers the Army the highest levels of maturity and technical readiness, the company statement said.

Bell has developed more than 50 years of tiltrotor expertise from the first generation XV-3 and XV-15 to the second generation 609 civil tiltrotor and working with Boeing [BA] the combat-proven V-22 Osprey.

With its Army-centric design, the Bell V-280 has the capacity to perform a multitude of missions with what the company calls unparalleled speed and agility. The Bell V-280’s clean-sheet design reduces complexity compared to previous generation tiltrotors, with fewer parts, as well as non-rotating, fixed engines. The Valor delivers the best value in procurement, operations and support, and force structure, providing increased maintainability, component reliability and systems designed to reduce operational and support costs, the company said.

“The Bell V-280 is a combat multiplier with a cruise speed of 280 knots and combat range of up to 800 nautical miles,” said Mitch Snyder, executive vice-president for military programs at Bell Helicopter. Tiltrotor is the only vertical lift platform that can rapidly self-deploy to any theater. And our technology demonstrator is a true medium-class aircraft accommodating a crew of four and 11 troops, which translates to the highest level of certainty for a future program of record.”

The Bell V-280 Valor design also offers a strategically self-deployable range of 2,100 nautical mile range, achieves 6k/95, has non-rotating, fixed engines, triple redundant fly-by-wire flight control system, and conventional, retractable landing gear. The design also has two six-foot wide large side doors, and has a small logistic footprint.

“Bell Helicopter is leading the development of next-generation tiltrotor technology, because it’s the best technology for future vertical lift,” Snyder said. “The U.S. Army’s JMR/TD Operational Effectiveness Analysis Report stated that advantages in speed and fuel efficiency made the tiltrotor the most operationally effective concept aircraft.