By Garrett Reim2021-05-06T01:17:00+01:00
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has contracted Bell to research a high-speed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The laboratory granted Bell a $950,000 contract to conduct applied research into the concept, it disclosed in an online notice posted on 28 April.
Source: Bell and US Patent & Trademark Office
Diagram from Bell’s ‘Tiltrotor aircraft having rotary and nonrotary flight modes’ patent application published in 2017
Bell acknowledged the contract, but declined to comment further. The AFRL did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Little else was disclosed in the contract notice titled “Bell’s High Speed VTOL (HSVTOL)”.
DEFIANT X - The Fastest and Most Maneuverable Assault Helicopter in History
(27 Jan 2021) Sikorsky and Boeing have unveiled details of what they promise will be the fastest, most maneuverable and most survivable assault helicopter in history.
Named DEFIANT X, the helicopter has been designed for the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft competition (FLRAA).
DEFIANT X is a complete weapon system that builds on the handling qualities and transformational capabilities proven by the team’s technology demonstrator, SB>1 DEFIANT.
On paper, the DEFIANT X flies twice as far and fast as the venerable Black Hawk helicopter it is designed to replace.