Here are the first photos of Sikorsky Boeing SB>1 Defiant Helicopter

The SB>1 Defiant is designed to fly at twice the speed and range of today’s conventional helicopters and offers advanced agility and maneuverability

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and Boeing provided the first look at the SB>1 Defiant helicopter.

Noteworthy the companies have developed the Defiant for the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role technology demonstrator program. The SB>1 Defiant is designed to fly at twice the speed and range of today’s conventional helicopters and offers advanced agility and maneuverability. It will help inform the next generation of military helicopters as part of the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program.

The helicopter is participating in the Army’s Joint Multi-Role-Medium Technology Demonstrator program. Data from SB>1 Defiant will help the Army develop requirements for new utility helicopters expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

Sikorsky, and partner Boeing, are proving the scalability and tailorability of Sikorsky’s Collier award-winning X2 Technology through SB>1 Defiant. Being developed for the U.S. Army’s joint multi-role technology demonstration program, this medium-class technology demonstrator will help inform the next generation of military helicopters.

Sikorsky and Boeing are also partnered on the medium-lift aircraft for the U.S. Government’s Future Vertical Lift program of record. The U.S. Government is expected to release the Request for Proposal for the medium-lift aircraft in 2019.

Photo credit: Sikorsky / Boeing