Sikorsky - Boeing Future Vertical Lift: The Way Forward

It could be the end of the Blackhawk helicopter, but SB>1 Defiant is set to change the future of combat.

Lockheed Martin has released a concept video showing a design in the Army's future Vertical Lift program that aims to replace the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the UH-60 Blackhawk.

Dubbed SB>1 Defiant, the fly-by-wire concept, designed with two coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, is said to speed through the air at nearly 300 mph and hover like a hummingbird.

Dubbed SB>1 Defiant, the fly-by-wire concept, designed with two coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, is said to speed through the air at nearly 300 mph and hover like a hummingbird

The concept craft is based on X2 Technology that was specifically designed for speed, maneuverability and scalability.

'The primary advantage that Defiant's going to offer over a traditional helicopter is, it's got twice the speed, two to three times the range, and is just an extremely maneuverable and agile platform,' said retired Marine Maj. Frank P. Conway, Boeing's experimental test pilot for both the SB>1 and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. 

'Conway, who was a V-22 test pilot in the Marine Corps as well, flew me on a simulated ride in the SB>1.'

'He calls the Defiant 'a very hot, sexy aircraft.' 

Defiant is currently being designed and built by Sikorsky-Boeing, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin 

Defiant is currently being designed and built by Sikorsky-Boeing, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The  craft shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet. dailymail

The Defiant shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet, David Szondy with New Atlas reported.

This is more than a hundred miles an hour faster than the UH-60M Blackhawk transport, as it maxes out at 183 miles an hour.

It will also have the strength and power to carry more cargo than the average helicopters, but Lockheed is not giving all of its secrets away – it has yet to release the range and payload capacity.

However, the firm is boasting about the machine's innovated design.

The 'warcopter' would be equipped with foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies.

The 'warcopter' would be equipped with foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies

And the pusher propeller and active rudders will provider pilots with more stability when hovering, as a well a helping them quickly accelerate and decelerate while in flight.

Defiant is designed to be more efficient when transporting soldiers – the cabin seats 12 people comfortably or eight medivac pallets - the Blackhawk can only carry 11 soldiers.

And there is weapon employments in all modes of flight.

Lockheed also shared that the Defiant can also 'dramatically reduced acoustic signature', which means it is much quieter than traditional helicopters and can go undetected by surrounding enemies.

Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky and the Boeing Co. are still fabricating parts for the first Defiant, which is their entrant in the Army-run Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR TD) program. 

It will also have the strength and power to carry more cargo than the average helicopters, but Lockheed is not giving all of its secrets away – it has yet to release the range and payload capacity. dailymail