The Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant helicopter achieved ‘first flight’ last month at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach site in Florida.
This revolutionary aircraft — developed by Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) and Boeing — will ‘inform’ the next generation of military helicopters as part of the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift programme.
David Koopersmith, general manager of Boeing Future Vertical Lift (
www.boeing.com), said: “The design and development of Defiant has revealed the capability advancement that is truly possible for Future Vertical Lift.
“Clearly, the performance, speed and agility of Defiant will be a game-changer on the battlefield, and we look forward to demonstrating for the US Army the tremendous capabilities of this aircraft.”
With its two co-axial main rotors and a rear-mounted ‘pusher’ propulsor, Defiant is unlike any other production rotorcraft available today.
It represents a leap forward in technology to achieve the US government’s desire for vast increases in speed and range, while improving manoeuvrability and survivability in a cost-effective way.
Dan Spoor, vice-president of Sikorsky Future Vertical Lift (
www.lockheedmartin.com/sikorsky), said: “Defiant is designed to fly at nearly twice the speed of conventional helicopters and have twice the range, while matching — or exceeding — their low-speed and hover performance.
“This design provides exceptional performance in the objective area, where potential enemy activity places a premium on manoeuvrability, survivability and flexibility.”