Bell, April 15, 2026 - Nashville, TN - Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced that the U.S. Army officially designated the MV-75 as the Cheyenne II.
Consistent with the U.S. Army tradition of honoring Native American tribes, the MV-75 honors the heritage of the Cheyenne Tribes, two federally recognized nations: the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma.
In 2025, the Army revealed the Mission Design Series (MDS) MV-75. The “MV” signals that it is a multi-mission vertical takeoff aircraft and the “75” commemorates the U.S. Army’s founding year, 1775. While the MDS honors the Army’s origin, the common name, Cheyenne II, honors the Cheyenne Tribes and their enduring legacy.
COL Jeffrey Poquette, Project Manager, FLRAA, said “In naming the MV-75 Cheyenne II, we honor the enduring contributions of the Cheyenne people to our Nation - both their distinguished service in uniform and their legacy as steadfast protectors of their way of life. The name also reflects a connection to the bold vision of the AH-56 Cheyenne, while ‘II’ signifies a new era of innovation and capability. It is a name that pays tribute to an indomitable warrior spirit and signals a decisive step forward for Army aviation.”
Throughout their history, the Cheyenne demonstrated remarkable adaptability, resilience, and determination in the face of shifting environments and external pressures. As the Cheyenne relocated multiple times due to threats from rival nations and westward expansion, they developed new skills, reorganized their communities, and remained agile in rapidly changing conditions.
The MV‑75 Cheyenne II reflects these same qualities. With its speed, range, lethality, and multi-mission adaptability, the Cheyenne II provides commanders with rapid options to mass combat power while reducing exposure in contested environments. Its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) ensures the platform can evolve with the demands of the modern battlefield.
The Cheyenne developed a strong warrior ethos defined by courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to protecting their people. Their warriors were celebrated for strength, endurance, and steadfastness in harsh conditions. The MV-75 Cheyenne II brings increased lethality to the Army, enabling commanders to have more options against adversaries to overwhelm them in battle. Its endurance enables the Army to operate at vast distances outside of the densest threat rings. A capability unavailable to them with current rotorcraft.
With its new name, the MV-75 represents two distinct groups of warriors - the U.S. Army and the Cheyenne tribes. Both share a heritage of skill, confidence, and commitment to the mission. The MV‑75 Cheyenne II embodies these values as it becomes the centerpiece of the Army’s long‑range air assault mission.
Ryan Ehinger, senior vice president & program director, FLRAA, Bell, said “Bell is proud that the MV-75 carries the name of the Cheyenne Tribes as we revolutionize Army Aviation. The Cheyenne heritage represents everything that the MV-75 will bring to the future fight. This is a significant milestone that comes right as we are accelerating assembly and production to deliver the MV-75 capability to warfighters faster.”
Bell and the Army remain on schedule as the team advances toward the delivery of the first test aircraft. Assigning an official name demonstrates the shared commitment to fieldling this critical next generation capability.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II is a transformational capability for the U.S. Army. With today’s naming announcement, Bell and the Army are one step closer to introducing the next generation of Army Aviation to the battlefield.
About Bell : Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We're an aerospace and defense company that engineers and manufactures aircraft for critical solutions in extreme scenarios. We're breaking barriers in lifting people to safety across transportation, medical, rescue and military services, and leading the industry in future solutions that are fast, reliable and efficient. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
About Textron : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems.
US Army - NASHVILLE, TN by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade - The U.S. Army officially named its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLARAA) the MV-75 Cheyenne II on April 15. The announcement was made during the 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit hosted by the Army Aviation Association of America.
"With the MV-75 we honor a legacy, forged by conflict, proven in battle, originally known to the U.S. Army as some of the most formidable and disciplined adversaries on the battlefield," said the HON Mike Obadal, 36th Under Secretary of the Army, to a crowd that included members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe. "The relationship evolved through warfare to mutual respect and finally into an unbroken legacy of patriotic service, with members serving in every major American conflict. The United States Army is proud to honor this history and pace the expectations of this warrior spirit on our aviators who operate the MV-75 Cheyenne."
The designation continues a 79-year tradition, once mandated in Army Regulation 70-28, of Army aircraft be named after Native American tribes. According to the MV-75 Nominee Project Office, Cheyenne was chosen based on the tribes' historical displays of the aircraft's key attributes. Officials stated the Army considered more than 500 tribes and solicited feedback from organizations responsible for the aircraft's development and delivery. While many tribes were researched, the Office found that the aircraft characteristics of speed, range, adaptability, and self-deplorability - mirrored the historical strengths of the Cheyenne tribes.
"The Cheyenne tribes represent a resilient warrior culture and embodies the key attributes of the MV-75," said the HON Brent Ingraham, Army Acquisition Executive. "I am honored to be part of this historic occasion as we officially name our multi-mission tiltrotor aircraft."
The Army official designation of MV-75 also symbolizes a new chapter in Aviation. Bell Textron Inc., the helicopters manufacturer, explained the “MV” stands for Multi-Mission Vertical Takeoff while “75” pays homage to the service’s founding in 1775.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II is the Army’s first conventional tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft was designed to reach speeds over 300 mph, transport 14 Soldiers, and carry an external load up to 10,000 lbs. While it was crafted for operations in the Indo-Pacific theatre, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. was chosen as the first unit to field the helicopter, with an expected arrival in 2027.
“To be the first to field the MV-75 Cheyenne II is an honor for the ‘Wings of Destiny’ Brigade,” said Col. Tyler Partridge, commander of the 101st CAB. “Our legacy is built on flying complex air assaults, and this aircraft represents the future of that mission. The speed and range of the MV-75 Cheyenne II will fundamentally change how we conduct air assaults, giving us a decisive advantage and ensuring our ground forces can strike farther and faster than any adversary.”
Consistent with the U.S. Army tradition of honoring Native American tribes, the MV-75 honors the heritage of the Cheyenne Tribes, two federally recognized nations: the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma.
In 2025, the Army revealed the Mission Design Series (MDS) MV-75. The “MV” signals that it is a multi-mission vertical takeoff aircraft and the “75” commemorates the U.S. Army’s founding year, 1775. While the MDS honors the Army’s origin, the common name, Cheyenne II, honors the Cheyenne Tribes and their enduring legacy.
COL Jeffrey Poquette, Project Manager, FLRAA, said “In naming the MV-75 Cheyenne II, we honor the enduring contributions of the Cheyenne people to our Nation - both their distinguished service in uniform and their legacy as steadfast protectors of their way of life. The name also reflects a connection to the bold vision of the AH-56 Cheyenne, while ‘II’ signifies a new era of innovation and capability. It is a name that pays tribute to an indomitable warrior spirit and signals a decisive step forward for Army aviation.”
Throughout their history, the Cheyenne demonstrated remarkable adaptability, resilience, and determination in the face of shifting environments and external pressures. As the Cheyenne relocated multiple times due to threats from rival nations and westward expansion, they developed new skills, reorganized their communities, and remained agile in rapidly changing conditions.
The MV‑75 Cheyenne II reflects these same qualities. With its speed, range, lethality, and multi-mission adaptability, the Cheyenne II provides commanders with rapid options to mass combat power while reducing exposure in contested environments. Its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) ensures the platform can evolve with the demands of the modern battlefield.
The Cheyenne developed a strong warrior ethos defined by courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to protecting their people. Their warriors were celebrated for strength, endurance, and steadfastness in harsh conditions. The MV-75 Cheyenne II brings increased lethality to the Army, enabling commanders to have more options against adversaries to overwhelm them in battle. Its endurance enables the Army to operate at vast distances outside of the densest threat rings. A capability unavailable to them with current rotorcraft.
With its new name, the MV-75 represents two distinct groups of warriors - the U.S. Army and the Cheyenne tribes. Both share a heritage of skill, confidence, and commitment to the mission. The MV‑75 Cheyenne II embodies these values as it becomes the centerpiece of the Army’s long‑range air assault mission.
Ryan Ehinger, senior vice president & program director, FLRAA, Bell, said “Bell is proud that the MV-75 carries the name of the Cheyenne Tribes as we revolutionize Army Aviation. The Cheyenne heritage represents everything that the MV-75 will bring to the future fight. This is a significant milestone that comes right as we are accelerating assembly and production to deliver the MV-75 capability to warfighters faster.”
Bell and the Army remain on schedule as the team advances toward the delivery of the first test aircraft. Assigning an official name demonstrates the shared commitment to fieldling this critical next generation capability.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II is a transformational capability for the U.S. Army. With today’s naming announcement, Bell and the Army are one step closer to introducing the next generation of Army Aviation to the battlefield.
About Bell : Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 90 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We're an aerospace and defense company that engineers and manufactures aircraft for critical solutions in extreme scenarios. We're breaking barriers in lifting people to safety across transportation, medical, rescue and military services, and leading the industry in future solutions that are fast, reliable and efficient. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.
About Textron : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems.
Army Announces Cheyenne Tribe Honored by MV-75 Helicopter
US Army - NASHVILLE, TN by Capt. Andrew Lightsey IV, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade - The U.S. Army officially named its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLARAA) the MV-75 Cheyenne II on April 15. The announcement was made during the 2026 Army Aviation Warfighting Summit hosted by the Army Aviation Association of America.
"With the MV-75 we honor a legacy, forged by conflict, proven in battle, originally known to the U.S. Army as some of the most formidable and disciplined adversaries on the battlefield," said the HON Mike Obadal, 36th Under Secretary of the Army, to a crowd that included members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe. "The relationship evolved through warfare to mutual respect and finally into an unbroken legacy of patriotic service, with members serving in every major American conflict. The United States Army is proud to honor this history and pace the expectations of this warrior spirit on our aviators who operate the MV-75 Cheyenne."
The designation continues a 79-year tradition, once mandated in Army Regulation 70-28, of Army aircraft be named after Native American tribes. According to the MV-75 Nominee Project Office, Cheyenne was chosen based on the tribes' historical displays of the aircraft's key attributes. Officials stated the Army considered more than 500 tribes and solicited feedback from organizations responsible for the aircraft's development and delivery. While many tribes were researched, the Office found that the aircraft characteristics of speed, range, adaptability, and self-deplorability - mirrored the historical strengths of the Cheyenne tribes.
"The Cheyenne tribes represent a resilient warrior culture and embodies the key attributes of the MV-75," said the HON Brent Ingraham, Army Acquisition Executive. "I am honored to be part of this historic occasion as we officially name our multi-mission tiltrotor aircraft."
The Army official designation of MV-75 also symbolizes a new chapter in Aviation. Bell Textron Inc., the helicopters manufacturer, explained the “MV” stands for Multi-Mission Vertical Takeoff while “75” pays homage to the service’s founding in 1775.
The MV-75 Cheyenne II is the Army’s first conventional tilt-rotor aircraft. The aircraft was designed to reach speeds over 300 mph, transport 14 Soldiers, and carry an external load up to 10,000 lbs. While it was crafted for operations in the Indo-Pacific theatre, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. was chosen as the first unit to field the helicopter, with an expected arrival in 2027.
“To be the first to field the MV-75 Cheyenne II is an honor for the ‘Wings of Destiny’ Brigade,” said Col. Tyler Partridge, commander of the 101st CAB. “Our legacy is built on flying complex air assaults, and this aircraft represents the future of that mission. The speed and range of the MV-75 Cheyenne II will fundamentally change how we conduct air assaults, giving us a decisive advantage and ensuring our ground forces can strike farther and faster than any adversary.”
See also |
FLRAA >
MV-75 Cheyenne II in
US Army Aviation Army Designates FLRAA as the MV-75
101st CAB
101st Combat Aviation Brigade US Army Aviation 
