15 Things You May Not Know About DEFIANT X Helicopter

DEFIANT X® is the new Sikorsky-Boeing helicopter and one of two candidates to replace the 40-year-old UH-60 Black Hawk under the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. But here are some things you may not know about this exciting new rotorcraft.

1.       “X” marks the spot. The X designation refers to the helicopter’s ability to “fly low and fast, land quickly, deliver soldiers to the X (the objective) and get out.”

2.       Together, Sikorsky and Boeing have built more than 90% of the Army’s current military rotorcraft – including the Black Hawk – which have recorded more than 15 million flight hours.

3.       The new aircraft is designed to fly twice as fast and twice as far as the Black Hawk and has been dubbed “the fastest, most maneuverable and most survivable assault helicopter in history.”

4.       Its speed and range are enabled by Honeywell’s advanced HTS7500 turboshaft engine, the newest and most technologically-advanced military turboshaft.

5.       Honeywell engines have been powering Army helicopters, including the legendary CH-47 Chinook, for more than 60 years.

6.       The DEFIANT X can travel at speeds of 247 knots or more and fly twice as far as a Black Hawk without needing to refuel.

7.       The DEFIANT X’s coaxial rotor system and pusher prop allow for a high degree of maneuverability in and around the objective, which is directly linked to survivability.

8.       During recent tests, the dual-engine DEFIANT SB>1 demonstrated single-engine operations, which highlighted the added survivability of the aircraft should an engine sustain combat damage.

9.       It also lifted a 5,300-pound training load, which is comparable in weight to hundreds of thousands of rounds ammunition or more than 600 gallons of water.

10.   The Honeywell HTS7500 takes engine performance and efficiency to a whole new level. It’s 42% more powerful than our previous-generation T55-714A turboshaft.  

11.   The DEFIANT SB>1 demonstrator flies with two Honeywell T55-714A engines.

12.   FLRAA is a key capability within the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) ecosystem and FVL is one of the Army’s top six modernization efforts. 

13.   DEFIANT X is designed to meet the Army’s requirement to provide air assault and MEDEVAC support in a contested and ever-changing environment. 

14.   DEFIANT X incorporates Sikorsky X2™ Technology to operate at high speeds while maintaining low-speed handling qualities.

15.   The Army expects to make a decision on the FLRAA award later this year.