Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc., has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with four industry collaborators — V2X, DigiFlight, Delaware Resource Group (DRG), and TRU Simulation — to support the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next program.
The agreement aims to leverage the collective experience of these organizations to deliver a modern, high-tech aviator training solution tailored to the future needs of U.S. Army pilots.
“Bell has been a trusted provider of military pilot training since 1946,” said Jeff Schloesser, executive vice president, Strategic Pursuits, Bell. “This group of companies represent a collective commitment to delivering a trusted, high-performing, technologically advanced and low-risk aviator training program to the Army customer that will ensure they are prepared for dynamic and challenging combat environments.”
The collaboration focuses on integrating simulation, training, and technology into a comprehensive training environment. This includes the use of the Bell 505, a five-seat helicopter designed for modern flight training. The aircraft is equipped with a Garmin G1000H NXi avionics suite and a Safran Arrius 2R engine with dual-channel FADEC, offering performance, efficiency, and reliability.
TRU Simulation, an affiliate of Textron Aviation, brings its simulator development capabilities to the consortium, while the other partners contribute expertise in training operations, instructional systems, and military aviation support.
The initiative supports the U.S. Army’s effort to evolve pilot training by incorporating cutting-edge tools and industry knowledge to create a scalable, adaptable learning model for the next generation of aviators.