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Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant takes flight

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Oct 30, 2017
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www.military.com

Sikorsky-Boeing's SB-1 Defiant Helicopter Prototype Impresses Leaders in Flight Demo

A Sikorsky-Boeing team flew helicopter prototypes that could become the Army's next scout and assault rotorcraft.
www.military.com www.military.com



In a demonstration Thursday for the U.S. Army's top civilian official, a Sikorsky-Boeing team flew experimental helicopter prototypes that could one day become the service's next scout and assault rotorcraft under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

The SB-1 Defiant helicopter prototype performed a series of aerial maneuvers to show off its unique X2 technology, which features a coaxial rotor blade system and a large propeller in the tail section of the aircraft designed to aid in forward thrust.
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Both the Defiant and Raider are designed to fly at speeds of more than 200 knots, but they flew at slower speeds during the demo. The Defiant hit 140 knots, while the Raider reached 180 knots.

Both hovered, flew backward and performed pirouettes for the audience.

"When we are flying at 130 knots in this machine, we are using less than 20% of the prop power and less than 30% of the engine power," said Bill Fell, senior experimental test pilot for the S-97 Raider and the Defiant.

By comparison, Black Hawks, equipped for combat, fly at an average speed of 140 knots.
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The Army is also scheduled to begin a competitive demonstration and risk-reduction phase for FLRAA, which is expected to last until 2022, the year the service plans to down-select to one vendor to build the Black Hawk replacement.

Sikorsky-Boeing officials remain highly confident that the X2 rotor technology will be part of the Army's Future Vertical Lift program.

"This really is a leap in technology; we didn't modify a helicopter to come [up] with X2," said Jay Macklin, director of Future Vertical Lift Business Development for Sikorsky. "This is new technology, which Sikorsky and Boeing have worked very, very hard to push forward."
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Commedieu

Commedieu

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Nov 11, 2017
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Russia and Boeing sitting in a tree.

Edit. I did not know it's an American company. NM.
 
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238 MPH Milestone
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    www.popularmechanics.com

    New SB-1 Defiant Helicopter Hits 238 MPH Speed Milestone

    Defiant is one of two helicopters that could replace the Army’s UH-60 Blackhawk.
    www.popularmechanics.com www.popularmechanics.com

    A new helicopter and candidate to replace the Army's fleet of assault transport helicopters reached a key speed milestone. The Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant helicopter reached 205 knots, or 238 miles an hour. The Defiant is one of two contenders to replace the Black Hawk, using an unorthodox rotor configuration to speed soldiers across the battlefield faster than ever before.
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    The test flight took place on June 9 at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach Development Flight Test Center. Sikorsky test pilot Bill Fell and Boeing test pilot Ed Henderscheid pushed the SB-1 to 205 knots, the equivalent to 230 miles an hour. That's faster than the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the U.S. Army's current medium assault transport helicopter, which has a never-exceed speed of 194 knots (223 miles an hour) and a cruise speed of 155 knots (178 miles an hour). The SB-1 Defiant is designed to carry four crew members and up to twelve passengers.
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    According to Defense News, the SB-1 hit 205 knots using just half of its propeller power and the test pilots involved are confident the plane will fly even faster. Breaking Defense reports the eventual goal for Defiant is 288 knots, which translates to 331 miles an hour. The U.S. Army operated 2,279 Black Hawk and 744 Apache helicopters in 2019, making the FLRAA program worth about 3,000 aircraft between 2030 and 2050.
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    • Met US Army's speed requirements
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    www.defensenews.com

    Watch the SB-1 Defiant coaxial demonstrator aircraft hit 230 knots

    Defiant met the Army's future long-range assault aircraft speed goal in Oct. 12 flight.
    www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

    WASHINGTON — The Sikorsky-Boeing developed SB-1 Defiant coaxial demonstrator aircraft hit 232 knots in a descent, and 211 knots in straight and level flight, meeting the U.S. Army's speed requirements for its future long-range assault aircraft it plans to field by 2030.

    In the Oct. 12 flight, the aircraft was using about two-thirds prop torque and engine power to achieve the speeds.

    "We are excited about the results we are seeing and what the future holds for our ability to bring this capability to the warfighter," the Sikorsky-Boeing team said in a statement to Defense News.
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    The team continues to "make great progress as we advance Defiant's rigorous flight test program," the statement said. "With every flight, as we continue to increase Defiant's speed, angle of bank and rate of climb, we are gathering important data, expanding our speed and maneuverability envelope and validating our modeling and simulation tools."

    Defiant was close to hitting the 230-knot goal in June when it reached a speed of 205 knots. The demonstrator hit 100 knots in January.
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    Defiant and Bell's V-280 Valor tilt-rotor demonstrator were built for the Army to evaluate what is in the realm of the possible for a future medium-lift aircraft. The technology demonstration phase has ended, but both teams were chosen to continue into a competitive demonstration and risk-reduction phase that is ongoing. The companies are expected to compete head-to-head to build and aircraft for the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program.
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    www.defensenews.com

    Lockheed-Boeing team pitch Defiant X, its candidate for the Army’s long-range assault helo competition

    Lockheed Martin and Boeing reveal Defiant X, it's solution to the Army for it's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, born out of the team's technology demonstrator efforts.
    www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

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    WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky and Boeing have pitched a tweaked version of the team's coaxial technology demonstrator — the SB-1 Defiant — which it plans to submit for the U.S. Army's Future Long-Range Assault (FLRAA) competition, according to the companies.

    The modified, competition-ready aircraft design is being called Defiant X, taking the same surname as little brother Raider X, which is Lockheed's submission for the Army's other helicopter competition — the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program — running nearly in parallel.
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    Defiant X made its public debut Jan. 25 featuring changes to the outer mold line compared to the demonstrator airframe, such as a sharper nose cone; a tricycle-style landing gear; changes to the exhaust system and an integrated mission systems package.

    Some of the changes to the airframe were made to reduce thermal signature and improve aerodynamic handling. The exhaust system alterations also reduce thermal signature, the team conveyed.

    The landing gear changes are meant to improve stability, landing and taxiing in combat and more austere environments, according to the companies.
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    "The design you're going to see today is a result of those studies. The CDRR has provided a great vehicle to share data back and forth to help the Army again understand and come to a decision on exactly what they are looking for," he said.

    The team, according to Macklin, continue to also run tests in a digital combat environment that allows the ability to look at and test designs and maintenance procedures, fly and run operational analysis in order to ensure the best design.
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    • Tallshortman

    Tallshortman

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    Oct 29, 2017
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    Sikorsky and Boeing seem to have the more cutting edge technology but I worry about the acquisition portion. The military needs some big acquisition wins, meaning they don't go insanely over budget and meet performance timelines.
     
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