DARPA Taps Bell To Build X-Plane Demonstrator, Aims For Flight Testing In 2028

Artist's rendering of Bell's X-plane concept for DARPA's SPRINT program. Photo: Bell.

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Bell [TXT] to build a X-plane demonstrator capable of flying at speeds of up to 450 knots, with the office confirming to Defense Daily it aims to have a platform completed in 2027 to support flight testing in 2028. Bell, which beat out Boeing’s [BA] Aurora Flight Sciences, noted that its work on Phase 2 of the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program will include completing design, construction, ground…

Contract Updates

CORRECTION: The contract announced on Sept. 29 2025 (for A-GAS US Inc., Bowling Green) – $31,442,629

CORRECTION: The contract announced on Sept. 29, 2025, for A-GAS US Inc., Bowling Green, Ohio (SPE4A7-25-D-0386) for $31,442,629 was not awarded.

UPDATE: Somo Lens LLC (Santa Fe Springs, California (SPE2DF-26-D-0004) – $37,500,000)

UPDATE: Somo Lens LLC,* Santa Fe Springs, California (SPE2DF-26-D-0004, $37,500,000) has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for optical lens program for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DE-24-R-0002 and awarded on May…

UPDATE: Hologic Sales and Service LLC (Marlborough, Massachusetts (SPE2D1-26-D-0005) – $95,000,000),

UPDATE: Hologic Sales and Service LLC, Marlborough, Massachusetts (SPE2D1-26-D-0005, $95,000,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DH-21-R-0002 and awarded Feb.…

Vertex Aerospace LLC (Madison, Mississippi) – $

Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Mississippi, was awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed price of $ 20,995,905 for F-16 Systems Program Office Foreign Military Sales (FMS) support. This contract action involves FMS support for contractor logistics support (CLS) for…

DARPA Taps Bell To Build X-Plane Demonstrator, Aims For Flight Testing In 2028

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Contract Updates

CORRECTION: The contract announced on Sept. 29 2025 (for A-GAS US Inc., Bowling Green) – $31,442,629

UPDATE: Somo Lens LLC (Santa Fe Springs, California (SPE2DF-26-D-0004) – $37,500,000)

UPDATE: Hologic Sales and Service LLC (Marlborough, Massachusetts (SPE2D1-26-D-0005) – $95,000,000),

Vertex Aerospace LLC (Madison, Mississippi) – $

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