Sikorsky and Boeing partner for chopper program

Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and St. Louis-based Boeing Defense, Space & Security have been selected to build a helicopter for the U.S. Army”™s joint multi-role technology demonstrator phase one program, “paving the way for the next generation of vertical lift aircraft,” Sikorsky said in a press release.

The U.S. Army Aviation Technology Directorate selected the Sikorsky-Boeing team to continue the development of the SB 1 Defiant, a medium-lift helicopter configured to Sikorsky”™s X2 design, through flight testing.

The first flight for the program is expected in 2017.

“Defiant will use Sikorsky”™s proven X2 technology to overcome aircraft design challenges, which will be critical requirements on future vertical lift aircraft,” said Mick Maurer, Sikorsky president, in the press release. “The Sikorsky-Boeing team”™s integrated approach has created a unique blend of expertise, innovative spirit and customer commitment that are unmatched in the industry. The complementary capabilities of each team member have delivered a design that will provide the best future vertical lift solution to the U.S. Army, and the flexibility of our design makes it suited for naval applications as well. This is a major leap forward.”

The Defiant aircraft will feature counter-rotating rigid main rotor blades for vertical and forward flight, a pusher propeller for high-speed acceleration and deceleration, and an advanced fly-by-wire flight control system.

Sikorsky and Boeing formed their joint mutli-role team in January 2013 and each company has invested significantly in the program, Sikorsky reported.