Questions Swirl Around MV-75 And Army Aviation

SPEAKER_1 (0:06)

Welcome to Check 6

Today we look ahead at AUSA, the US. Army's big annual gathering in DC. Obviously, we've already talked a lot at AFA about the Air Force, and earlier in the year, Navy League, and then of course, Taylork. So the Army gets its turn this time. And like with the other services, there's a lot going on in the Army. A lot around missiles. But also, it's kind of a good time always with AUSA to check in what's going on with Army Aviation. I think that's where we're going to start today. So joining me for this conversation are Brian Eberstein, our Senior Pentagon Editor, Vivian Maschi, our Senior Military Space Editor, and Steve Trimble, as always, Senior Defense Editor. Brian, let's kick it off with you. Let's talk about Mv-75.

Bell earlier was talking about with money running out, they were going to put some money in to keep the program going as they waited for reprogramming language, but looks like it's turbulent again for Mv-75. So why don't you fill us in where things stand generally with the program?

Brian Everstine (1:08)

Yeah, so the past several months have really been interesting for the Mv-75 program, really since we got its name back at Quad A in the spring, in Cheyenne 2

So if we go back to the beginning of the year, then Army Chief of Staff General George said that he expected a prototype to be delivered by the end of this calendar year, which was on a new, very, very aggressive schedule for the program, talking to some Army Aviation leaders. They basically had no wiggle room, no real room for anything to really happen to meet the schedule. But unfortunately, some things happened. There was a lot of worry about money running out within fiscal year 26 that would lead to a stop work order. Back in July, I believe, there were layoffs at Beltextron on the program.

So the Army had asked for reprogramming to keep it going. Textron has said they'll put some money in to keep it progressing as they await this funding. So there are going to be some impacts on that schedule. I'm really looking forward to discussions at AUSA to get some more clarity on where things stand. As I mentioned, General George had expected that prototype by two months from now. But that is appearing very unlikely. About a month ago or so, the head of Army Aviation, General Gill, had an industry day where he said he expected delivery of the prototype at the end of Fiscal 27 So that's about a year from now, a little less than a year from now. There may have been some impacts since then. So I'd be looking for a lot of insight on where the program does stand. There does seem to be some still uncertainty, especially on the Hill. There's a letter by 87 lawmakers led by Senator Moran of Kansas, where the Mv-75 is being built, and Congressman Jackson from Bells District in Texas, urging a lot of support from both the Pentagon and OMB to keep funding going on the Mv-75. So hopefully, we'll get a big update on where things do stand on this program, and on an overall review of Army Aviation that has been going on this year. I know Steve has things to share on that.

SPEAKER_1 (3:06)

That's obviously, it is kind of the flagship program for the Army Aviation community right now. So it's kind of, I think, a gut punch if that's slow rolled.

Brian Everstine (3:20)

Yeah, absolutely.

Every egg is in that basket, really, on Army modernization in aviation. They have the name going, they have pilots and crews working on Ospreys right now to get ready for it. They have really a lot of groundwork set, but it seems like we won't see the prototype for a little bit.

SPEAKER_1 (3:38)

Well, Steve, go on to you. You're like me, you've seen this with the Army before, many times before, Army Aviation does seem to go through its dips. But if you look at the Army even more broadly, what do you think is going on there right now?

Steve Trimble (3:52)

So Army Aviation is in hover mode, shall we say, at the moment across the portfolio, not quite in vortex ring state. Some of you might know the reference there. But it's looking very tenuous and perilous, to be honest. If you just look at the procurement budget this year, they're going from $4 billion in fiscal 2026 to $1.9 billion in fiscal 2027 It's a 50% cut in procurement authority that's being requested, right? That still has to be adjudicated by Congress. Within that, that includes the output, essentially, of the Army Transformation Initiative, which affects the entire Army, but it fell really hard on Army Aviation because the idea was we were going to take money out of procurement and use that money to fast track Mv-75, even though it does appear Mv-75 is struggling to keep pace with that acceleration already. So the effect of that, the plan was to stop buying age 64s, divest the aerial cavalry squadrons of each Combat Aviation Brigade. Basically, the old armed scout role that had been sort of moved over to the age 64Ds in partnership with the MQ-1C Grey Eagles, but just essentially eliminate that. And they're also not going to, the plan was they weren't going to buy any more UH-60Ms and further postpone procurement of CH-47 Block IIs.