Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company and Boeing provided the first look at the SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ helicopter the companies have developed for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role technology demonstrator program. The SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ is designed to fly at twice the speed and range of today’s conventional helicopters and offers advanced agility and maneuverability. It will help inform the next generation of military helicopters as part of the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program. The helicopter is participating in the Army’s Joint Multi-Role-Medium Technology Demonstrator program. Data from SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ will help the Army develop requirements for new utility helicopters expected to enter service in the early 2030s.
Sikorsky, and partner Boeing, are proving the scalability and tailorability of Sikorsky’s Collier award-winning X2 Technologyâ„¢ through SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢. Being developed for the U.S. Army’s joint multi-role technology demonstration program, this medium-class technology demonstrator will help inform the next generation of military helicopters. Sikorsky and Boeing are also partnered on the medium-lift aircraft for the U.S. Government’s Future Vertical Lift program of record. The U.S. Government is expected to release the Request for Proposal for the medium-lift aircraft in 2019.
As the lead providers of Attack, Assault, and Heavy Lift Helicopters for the Department of Defense and with a proven track record and a demonstrated ability to exceed customer requirements for those missions with these programs of record, Boeing and Sikorsky have joined forces to develop the SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ for the DoD. Defiant is a fully integrated aircraft that represents an evolution of the military’s most capable platforms. Designed for the Army’s attack and assault missions as well as the Marine Corps long-range transportation, infiltration and resupply missions, the SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ is uniquely suited to provide the warfighter with unmatched capabilities for the U.S. Military’s various missions.
Sikorsky and Boeing have designed the SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ to provide the right combination of speed, lift and range that are paramount to both the assault and attack missions while increasing overall maneuverability and agility. Developed with 85 percent commonality between attack and assault aircraft, the SB>1 DEFIANTâ„¢ will reduce development and life-cycle costs and ensure minimal disruption or loss of existing rotorcraft expertise. Its open mission systems architecture allows rapid technology and capability insertion to meet evolving FVL requirements and provide the U.S. Military with evolutionary sustainability, affordability and readiness for years to come.