MV-75 Cheyenne gains Soldier insights during sixth Special User Evaluation

By Omar Barrett, MV-75 Cheyenne Acquisition Systems Management

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. —Aviators from the Operational Development Team (ODT) and Soldiers representing the National Guard State Army Aviation Office (SAAO) Advisory Council Working Group participated in the sixth MV-75 Cheyenne Special User Evaluation (SUE) Aug. 24–28, 2026.

The evaluation placed operational users directly into the aircraft-development process, giving pilots, crew chiefs, and maintainers an opportunity to assess the MV-75 Cheyenne and provide feedback based on real-world aviation experience. Their input helps the program connect engineering decisions with the demands of combat and domestic flight operations.

At the beginning of the evaluation participants built a shared understanding of the current MV-75 Cheyenne program baseline. The program provided “MV-75 Cheyenne 101” instruction through The Army Acquisition School, tiltrotor familiarization with the MV-75 prototype, and cockpit familiarization at the Advanced Prototyping Engineering and Experimentation (APEX) Laboratory and the Army Flight Test Directorate (AFTD). This structured approach connected frontline aviation expertise with emerging platform systems, accelerated operational readiness, and gave engineers timely, actionable feedback.

The ODT represents operational aviators at key program milestones, including SUEs, to ensure Soldiers help shape the aircraft’s final design. At Fort Rucker, the team uses virtual prototypes and lessons learned from joint-service V-22 Osprey operations to build tiltrotor expertise, streamline pilot training, and prepare units for fielding before the first aircraft arrive. The team will also develop the tactics, techniques, and procedures that will guide MV-75 operations.

The National Guard SAAO Advisory Council Working Group included representatives from Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania. Col. Jim Mandel of the Idaho National Guard said these officers advise their states’ Adjutants General on how to position and employ aviation assets for state and federal missions.

Special User Evaluations bring active-duty pilots, crew chiefs, and mechanics into the Cheyenne’s development cycle early, helping ensure the aircraft meets operational requirements and improves combat effectiveness. Their feedback helps the program reduce cognitive workload, improve human-systems integration, strengthen interoperability, and identify risks and costs before they become more difficult to address.

Maj. J.T. Hingey, deputy team chief for the MV-75 Operational Development Team, said the Army established the ODT to integrate the MV-75 into the operational force as a fully synchronized and supportable capability. The team works across the aviation enterprise with the MV-75 Project Management Office, AFTD, and Fort Rucker organizations such as the Directorate of Training and Doctrine and the Transformation Integration Directorate.

During the SUE, participants completed hands-on sessions at the APEX Laboratory, the MV-75 virtual reality trainer, and the MV-75 Cheyenne Virtual Prototype. Crews explored the virtual prototype to become familiar with the crew station, while aviators flew missions over simulated terrain to assess tiltrotor flight dynamics, vertical-lift controls, and high-speed conversion to airplane mode.

CW4 Darren Frey of the Colorado National Guard and the High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site said the MV-75 will strengthen domestic operations. Its extended range and increased transit speed could allow states to centralize fleet maintenance at a single hub while maintaining rapid-response coverage across the state. This approach could reduce infrastructure and maintenance requirements while preserving operational responsiveness.

At the APEX Laboratory, aviators evaluated and compared the cockpit layouts of the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk. These hands-on assessments allowed pilots to identify effective features, usability concerns, and design limitations.

Aviators also completed flight familiarization in the MD 530 with AFTD to assess the aircraft’s cockpit layout and functionality. The MV-75 Cheyenne program will consolidate feedback from these comparative evaluations and use it to inform technical discussions with the contractor, helping optimize future cockpit designs for pilot performance.

Participants also examined the broader acquisition lifecycle, human-systems integration, platform-specific cybersecurity, and operational infrastructure requirements. Using virtual-reality interfaces, maintainers practiced removing and replacing major aircraft components. Staff Sgt. Eric Lopez of the ODT said the aircraft’s upgraded electronics, comprehensive maintenance packages, and intuitive technical manuals will simplify maintenance and sustainment for Soldiers.

CW4 A.J. Dillon of the ODT emphasized the value of working closely with the project manager and other stakeholders. The collaboration helped participants understand organizational roles, identify key points of contact, and close critical knowledge gaps about the MV-75 program. It also familiarized the team with the new aircraft and aligned its efforts with the program’s long-term maintenance and sustainment requirements.

Hingey said the evaluation produced several important takeaways for the aviation enterprise at Fort Rucker. He emphasized that the team’s first in-person engagement with the project manager and AFTD strengthened the professional relationships needed to keep the MV-75 program aligned across key stakeholders.

He also noted that hands-on experience with the virtual prototype, guided by AFTD experimental test pilots with V-22 tiltrotor experience, provided valuable operational insights. By observing how AFTD tests and trains on the platform, the Fort Rucker team can improve its own virtual prototype, refine tactics, techniques, and procedures, and deliver more effective demonstrations for senior Army leaders.

Finally, Hingey stressed the importance of maintaining a clear understanding of the current program baseline and the external factors that affect it. Shared visibility helps the aviation enterprise set realistic expectations and remain aligned when funding, schedules, or other program variables change.

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