Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin firm (NYSE: LMT) has efficiently validated the superior management legal guidelines to efficiently fly a ‘rotor blown wing’ uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in each helicopter and airplane modes. Powered by batteries, the 115 kilos (52kg) twin prop-rotor prototype has demonstrated operational stability and maneuverability throughout all flight regimes, and the potential to scale the distinctive vertical take-off and touchdown (VTOL) design to bigger sizes requiring hybrid-electric propulsion.
“Combining helicopter and airplane flight traits onto a flying wing displays Sikorsky’s drive to innovate next-generation VTOL UAS plane that may fly sooner and farther than conventional helicopters,” mentioned Sikorsky Vice President and Normal Supervisor Wealthy Benton. “Our rotor blown wing platform is a primary instance how we’re leveraging the breadth of our 102-year aviation heritage to develop new designs that meet the rising missions of economic and army operators.”
Innovation Breakthrough
Sikorsky Improvements, the corporate’s speedy prototyping group, heads the hassle to develop and mature the rotor blown wing design. In simply over a yr, Sikorsky Improvements has progressed via preliminary design, simulation, tethered and untethered flight to assemble aerodynamic, flight management and high quality information.
Breakthrough was achieved in January 2025 with the ten.3-ft composite wingspan plane when Sikorsky Improvements efficiently accomplished greater than 40 take-offs and landings. Notably, the plane carried out 30 transitions between helicopter and airplane modes, probably the most complicated maneuver demanded of the design. In horizontal flight mode, the plane reached a high cruise velocity of 86 knots. Simultaneous wind tunnel exams had been performed on a 1:1 scale mannequin offering useful validation of the newly developed management legal guidelines by correlating them with real-world experimental information.
“Our rotor blown wing has demonstrated the management energy and distinctive dealing with qualities essential to transition repeatedly and predictably from a hover to high-speed wing-borne cruise flight, and again once more,” mentioned Sikorsky Improvements Director Igor Cherepinsky. “New management legal guidelines had been required for this transition maneuver to work seamlessly and effectively. The information signifies we are able to function from pitching ships decks and unprepared floor when scaled to a lot bigger sizes.”
Purposes of future UAS rotor blown wing plane embody search and rescue, firefighting monitoring, humanitarian response, and pipeline surveilling. Massive variants will allow lengthy vary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and piloted drone teaming (crewed/uncrewed teaming) missions.
All rotor blown wing variants will embody Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ flight autonomy system to navigate the plane throughout flight.
Household of Techniques
The rotor blown wing design is certainly one of a future household of methods in improvement by Sikorsky. The household will embody winged VTOL UAS and single predominant rotor plane.
Additionally in improvement by Sikorsky is a 1.2 megawatt hybrid-electric demonstrator (HEX) configured with a tilt wing and a fuselage to hold passengers or cargo throughout lengthy distances. A HEX energy system take a look at mattress is predicted to display hover functionality in 2027.
For extra info, see https://lockheedmartin.com/sikorskyinnovations
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