Stratford-headquartered Sikorsky is teaming with GE Aerospace in the creation of a Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator (HEX), a fully autonomous hybrid-electric vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) prototype.
According to a press statement, the companies said the aircraft can operate without an on-board crew and will be used as a “flying test-bed to evaluate large aircraft design, novel propulsion systems and control architectures for sustained hover, and ranges greater than 500 nautical miles.” Sikorsky”™s Matrix autonomy system will control flight aboard the HEX aircraft while GE Aerospace will provide the aircraft with a CT7 turboshaft engine combined with a 1MW-class generator and associated power electronics.
The companies added the HEX program could lead to a family of eVTOL vehicles scaled to carry passengers and payload for both military and commercial applications.
“As Sikorsky celebrates 100 years of flight innovations, it”™s fitting to highlight our continued commitment to safe and sustainable transformative flight,” said Paul Lemmo, Sikorsky president. “Sikorsky”™s HEX aircraft will provide critical insights into the possibilities of electric systems in VTOL aircraft. Ultimately, we want to show the potential of large, advanced air mobility vehicles to perform utility missions for the U.S. military and transport passengers between cities.”
“Bringing innovative technology is a top priority for GE Aerospace,” said Amy Gowder, president and CEO of defense and systems at GE Aerospace. “We are committed to developing hybrid electric propulsion systems that save fuel and optimize performance for the military and commercial applications. We are thrilled to build off our existing work with NASA and the Army to offer to power Sikorsky”™s HEX aircraft and bolster the future of flight.”
Photo: Paul Lemmo, Sikorsky president, and Amy Gowder, president and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace, announcing the Long-Range Hybrid-Electric VTOL Demonstrator. Photo courtesy of Sikorsky.
