DARPA has selected Bell and Boeing’s [BA] Aurora Flight Sciences to move forward in its program to develop vertical takeoff and landing prototypes capable of flying at speeds of up to 450 knots, with both firms to complete preliminary design reviews in the next year.
The two firms had been competing in the initial phase of the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane effort, which is a joint DARPA and U.S. Special Operations Command effort, while
Northrop Grumman [NOC] and Piasecki Aircraft were not picked to continue forward on the program.
DARPA announced in November 2023 it had selected the four companies for the SPRINT program, with Phase 1A focused on conceptual design work (Defense Daily, Nov. 27 2023).
“The SPRINT X-plane is intended to be a proof-of-concept technology demonstrator and its flight test program seeks to validate enabling technologies and integrated concepts that can be scaled to different size military aircraft. The goal of the program is to provide these aircraft with the ability to cruise at speeds from 400 to 450 knots at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments from unprepared surfaces,” DARPA said at the time.
Bell on Tuesday said it completed risk reduction testing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico late last year, “showcasing folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies,” noting its High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing technology “blends the hover capability of a helicopter with the speed (400+ kts), range, and survivability of jet aircraft.”
“Bell is honored to be selected for the next phase of this revolutionary program and ready to execute preliminary design,” Jason Hurst, Bell’s executive vice president of engineering, said in a statement. “We completed our initial risk reduction efforts with our sled test demonstration at Holloman Air Force Base, and we look forward to building on this success with our continued work with DARPA.”
Aurora Flight Sciences also detailed its offering that recently completed a conceptual design review, reiterating a goal to conduct a first flight within 36 months.
“Aurora’s concept is a low-drag, fan-in-wing demonstrator that integrates a blended wing body platform, combining the agility of vertical take-off and landing with unprecedented speed. The team’s approach seeks to set the program on the path to successful flight and demonstrate game-changing capability for air mobility and Special Operations Forces missions,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
“New renderings of the fan-in-wing (FIW) demonstrator reveal three lift fans, a more refined, composite exterior; and an uncrewed cockpit. The choice of three lift fans reflects the team’s strategy to simplify the demonstrator and streamline its path to flight test. The FIW technology could be scaled to four or more lift fans to meet future aircraft requirements, and it could unlock opportunities for a future family of systems. Similarly, while an uncrewed demonstrator offers benefits in testing and risk reduction, the FIW technology would be fully transferable to traditional aircraft with crews,” Aurora Flight Sciences added.
Aurora Flight Sciences said previously its work on DARPA’s SPRINT program will build on experience with the Boeing X-48 blended wing body aircraft and its own Aurora Excalibur UAS.
NASA and Boeing in 2013 completed flight testing of the X-48 demonstrator at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center (Defense Daily, April 14, 2013).
“Aurora and Boeing bring relevant expertise in blended-wing-body platforms, high-speed VTOL configurations, and military aircraft development,” Larry Wirsing, vice president of aircraft development at Aurora Flight Sciences, said in a statement on Tuesday. “The DARPA SPRINT program is an exciting opportunity to continue our history of advancing technology demonstrator programs that enable new capabilities for the U.S. military.”