Here’s a long overdue first look at Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky and Boeing new SB>1 DEFIANT helicopter developed for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role technology demonstrator program. The helicopter with a URL-unfriendly name is capable of flying at twice the speed and range of today’s conventional helicopters, while offering advanced agility and maneuverability (even though, it may not look like it). It may or may not make it as a defense used helicopter (it is, after all, a demonstrator), but the data gathered from it will help the Army to develop requirements for new utility helicopters that reportedly will enter service in the early 2030s.
Also refer to as Sikorsky-Boeing Future Vertical Lift, the Sikorsky SB>1 DEFIANT Helicopter leverages on Sikorsky’s Collier Award winning X2 technology, an advanced coaxial rotor technology, and boast features like advanced rigid rotor system, advanced drive system, manual blade fold, composite fuselage, active vibration control, lift offset coaxial rotor system, active rudders and elevators (keeping in mind this is a helicopter), pusher prop with clutch, retractable gear, and fly-by-wire flight controls. Sikorsky SB>1 DEFIANT Helicopter is manned by a crew of four and has a cabin that can accommodate up to 12 combat equipped troops.
You can learn more about the Sikorsky SB>1 DEFIANT Helicopter HERE and HERE. Also, you may want to catch it doing ground runs in the video below.
All images courtesy of Boeing/Lockheed Martin.
