Boeing, Sikorsky Debut New Army Helicopter

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Sikorsky and Boeing unveiled the SB>1 Defiant, a new military utility helicopter designed for the U.S. Army's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program, where it will compete with Bell's V-280 Valor.
The Defiant is engineered to achieve twice the speed and range of conventional helicopters, offering advanced agility and maneuverability.
It incorporates innovative features like a rigid rotor system and a pusher prop, leveraging technology developed from Sikorsky's X2 Technology Demonstrator.
Designed as a 30,000-pound class aircraft, it can accommodate a four-person crew and 12 combat-equipped troops, with its first flight expected in 2019.

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Sikorsky and Boeing offered the first look at their new military utility helicopter this week. According to Boeing, the SB>1 Defiant was designed to “fly at twice the speed and range of today’s conventional helicopters” as well as offering “advanced agility and maneuverability.” The Defiant was developed for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program, where it will be competing with Bell’s V-280 Valor tilt-rotor.

The Defiant design uses technology developed from Sikorsky’s X2 Technology Demonstrator, which won the Collier Trophy in 2010. Boeing and Sikorsky say the Defiant will “help inform the next generation of military helicopters.” Features include active vibration control, a rigid rotor system, pusher prop, fly-by-wire flight controls and composite fuselage. The helicopter will fall in the 30,000-pound weight class, and have room for a four-person crew and a cabin capable of carrying 12 combat-equipped troops. The SB>1 Defiant demonstrator is expected to fly for the first time in 2019.