Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced significant progress on 14 October 2026 with the build of its MV-75 Cheyenne test aircraft. In recent months, Bell and Team Cheyenne have met multiple milestones, including completing critical structures, initiating gearbox testing and maturing software integration.

FIRST NACELLES COMPLETE

The first nacelle structures for the MV-75 Cheyenne were completed and are at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Amarillo, Texas. Following completion, Bell initiated its wing and nacelle assembly process by successfully fitting them together. Bell said the completion of the nacelle structures reflects the successful application of digital engineering to advance through engineering, tooling, detail part manufacture and assembly of critical structures.

FIRST GEARBOXES ENTER TEST

Bell commenced testing on the first gearboxes for the MV-75 Cheyenne test aircraft. The gearboxes, part of the overall drive system, are critical to aircraft operation, powering electrical power generators, hydraulic pumps and cooling blowers for the engine and nacelle. The MV-75 gearboxes are designed, manufactured and tested by Bell, with gears and cases manufactured at Bell’s Manufacturing Technology Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The complete system was instrumented and assembled for test in Bell’s new MV-75 Drive System Test Lab in Grand Prairie, Texas, on which Bell broke ground in 2023.

WEAPON SYSTEM INTEGRATION LAB INTEGRATION MATURES

Bell is maturing the MV-75’s software and digital backbone in its Weapon System Integration Lab, where various systems, including flight control computers, general purpose computers, actuator drive units, electrical components and large area displays, are integrated onto corresponding benches and undergoing testing. The facility, opened in Arlington, Texas, two years ago, supports the safe integration and validation of software and systems before flight of the test aircraft. Bell said leveraging the lab reduces technical risk and supports the safe, rapid and efficient execution of a flight test programme for the MV-75.

Bell said the completion of the nacelles, together with the start of gearbox testing and software integration, marks significant milestones for the first MV-75 test aircraft and moves Bell and Team Cheyenne closer to completing the build and beginning flight tests, with the company working closely with the Army throughout the build process to ensure the MV-75 meets programme requirements.

Note: This material is based upon work supported by the Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, under Contract No. W58RGZ-23-C-0001. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in Bell’s release are those of its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal.

Bell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, says it was the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter, and was part of NASA’s first lunar mission. Textron’s other brands include Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Textron Systems.