PARIS, France, June 18, 2025 – Honeywell has announced that Bell Textron selected its 36-150 auxiliary power unit (APU) and Honeywell Attune for integration into the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. The decision reflects Honeywell’s alignment on developing technologies that support next-generation military aviation platforms as part of its portfolio strategy.
The 36-150 APU supplies backup electrical and hydraulic power, supporting ground operations and system functionality independent of the main engines. Honeywell Attune is a thermal management system that provides cooled air or liquid for temperature control in aircraft cabins and electronic components. The system has been selected for the program to suit the mission needs of the FLRAA aircraft.
“FLRAA will deliver new long-range high speed transport capabilities to the U.S. Army helping to ensure force readiness against emerging threats,” said Rich DeGraff, president, control systems, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “We are confident that our proven 36-150 APU and Honeywell Attune system will exceed the expectations of the Army throughout the FLRAA contract and subsequent active-duty service that will last beyond 2050. Honeywell looks forward to continuing to serve the Army on their future vertical lift fleet.”
Honeywell’s FLRAA APU is based on the 36-150 APU series, which is known for fuel savings. Since its launch, Honeywell has delivered over 10,000 units for more than 20 commercial and military applications. The 36-150 APU is presently used in the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters.
Honeywell Attune is a new line of high-density cooling systems. Drawing on years of work in air cycle systems, Honeywell designed Attune to reduce weight, size and power use compared to older systems. Honeywell Attune is up to 35 percent lighter and 20 percent energy efficient than traditional cooling systems with similar capacity.
Honeywell Attune offers Bell a technical solution that reduces risk and is used in commercial aircraft to cool both cabins and aircraft systems. The system uses Honeywell’s Solstice zd refrigerant, which supports environmentally friendly vapor cycle operation.
Source: Honeywell
About Honeywell
Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, is a division of Honeywell International that develops aircraft systems and services for commercial, defense, business aviation, and space applications. Its portfolio includes avionics, propulsion systems, auxiliary power units, flight controls, satellite communications, and onboard connectivity, as well as maintenance and support. The division’s roots date back to 1914 and include the integration of several aerospace firms, such as Bendix, Sperry, and Garrett AiResearch. Honeywell Aerospace systems are installed on most modern aircraft and spacecraft, as well as in ground-based systems. In 2024, the Aerospace business generated around $15 billion in revenue. Its engineering focus includes fuel efficiency, flight optimization, safety systems, and integration of connected hardware and software. Honeywell’s business spans multiple industrial sectors and is organized around three long-term themes: automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition. These are supported by its operating framework, Honeywell Accelerator, and its IoT platform, Honeywell Forge.
About Bell Textron
Bell Textron Inc., based in Fort Worth, TX, is a division of Textron that designs and manufactures rotary-wing aircraft. Its products include military models such as the UH-1Y, AH-1Z, V-22, and V-280, as well as commercial helicopters like the Bell 407, 429, 505, 412, and 525. The company began as Bell Aircraft in 1935 and became part of Textron in 1960. It supplies aircraft to defense, public safety, utility, and business aviation sectors. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Bell reported revenue of approximately $1.1 billion, primarily from military programs. It operates manufacturing sites in Fort Worth and Amarillo, TX, and in Mirabel, Quebec, and supports a fleet of about 13,000 helicopters worldwide. Bell also provides technical support and training services for its aircraft.