DEFIANT helicopter takes first flight

Sikorsky and Boeing’s new joint venture, the SB-1 DEFIANT helicopter, achieved its first flight at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, Florida site. The aircraft is designed to ‘help inform the next generation of military helicopters as part of the US Army's Future Vertical Lift program’, notes Lockheed Martin.

&quotDEFIANT is designed to fly at nearly twice the speed and has twice the range of conventional helicopters while retaining the very best, if not better, low-speed and hover performance of conventional helicopters,&quot said Dan Spoor, Vice-President, Sikorsky Future Vertical Lift. &quotThis design provides for exceptional performance in the objective area, where potential enemy activity places a premium on manoeuvrability, survivability and flexibility. We are thrilled with the results of today's flight and look forward to an exciting flight test program.&quot

Thanks to its two coaxial main rotors and rear-mounted pusher propulsor, Sikorsky said that ‘DEFIANT 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. In addition, DEFIANT aircraft's use of X2 Technology will allow the Army to penetrate from strategic standoff and exploit gaps created in complex Anti-Access Area Denial systems against near-peer adversaries. 

X2 Technology is scalable to a variety of military missions such as attack and assault, long-range transportation, infiltration and resupply. DEFIANT is the third X2 aircraft in less than 10 years.

The helicopter is participating in the Army's Joint Multi-Role-Medium Technology Demonstrator programme. Data from DEFIANT will help the Army develop requirements for new utility helicopters expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

“The design and development of DEFIANT has revealed the capability advancement that is truly possible for Future Vertical Lift,&quot said David Koopersmith, Vice-President and General Manager, Boeing Vertical Lift. &quotClearly, 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.&quot