Lockheed Martin reveals radical SB>1 Defiant that would be the fastest helicopter in the world and replace the Blackhawk AND Apache

  • Lockheed Martin revealed concept video for a combat helicopter 
  • Could replace the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the UH-60 Blackhawk
  • Craft tops out at 300 mph and is able to hover 6,000 feet in the air
  • Defiant is much faster and carries more soldiers than the UH-60M Blackhawk

By Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

It could be the end of the Blackhawk helicopter, but SB>1 Defiant is set to change the future of combat.

Lockheed Martin has released a concept video showing a design in the Army's future Vertical Lift program that aims to replace the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the UH-60 Blackhawk.

Dubbed SB>1 Defiant, the fly-by-wire concept, designed with two coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, is said to speed through the air at nearly 300 mph and hover like a hummingbird.

Scroll down for video 

Dubbed SB>1 Defiant, the fly-by-wire concept, designed with two coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, is said to speed through the air at nearly 300 mph and hover like a hummingbird

Dubbed SB>1 Defiant, the fly-by-wire concept, designed with two coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, is said to speed through the air at nearly 300 mph and hover like a hummingbird

SB1>DEFIANT FEATURES 

The Defiant shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet. 

It has foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies. 

Defiant is also designed to be efficient when transporting soldiers – the cabin seats 12 people comfortably or eight medevac pallets - the Blackhawk can only carry 11 soldiers.

And there is weapon employments in all modes of flight.

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The concept craft is based on X2 Technology that was specifically designed for speed, maneuverability and scalability.

'The primary advantage that Defiant's going to offer over a traditional helicopter is, it's got twice the speed, two to three times the range, and is just an extremely maneuverable and agile platform,' said retired Marine Maj. Frank P. Conway, Sikorsky's experimental test pilot for both the SB>1 and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. 

He called the Defiant 'a very hot, sexy aircraft.' 

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, and Boeing are partners on SB>1 DEFIANT, as well as Future Vertical Lift Medium.

The Defiant shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet, David Szondy with New Atlas reported.

This is more than a hundred miles an hour faster than the UH-60M Blackhawk transport, as it maxes out at 183 miles an hour.

Defiant is currently being designed and built by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The  craft shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet

Defiant is currently being designed and built by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The  craft shown in the clip would cruise at 250 knots and hover at altitudes of 6,000 feet

It will also have the strength and power to carry more cargo than the average helicopters, but Lockheed is not giving all of its secrets away – it has yet to release the range and payload capacity.

However, the firm is boasting about the machine's innovated design.

The 'warcopter' would be equipped with foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies.

The 'warcopter' would be equipped with foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies

The 'warcopter' would be equipped with foldable, ridged composite rotor blades that create less downwash when it lowers to the ground to drop off or pick off soldiers and supplies

And the pusher propeller and active rudders will provider pilots with more stability when hovering, as a well a helping them quickly accelerate and decelerate while in flight.

Defiant is designed to be more efficient when transporting soldiers – the cabin seats 12 people comfortably or eight medevac pallets - the Blackhawk can only carry 11 soldiers.

And there is weapon employments in all modes of flight.

Lockheed also shared that the Defiant can also 'dramatically reduced acoustic signature', which means it is much quieter than traditional helicopters and can go undetected by surrounding enemies.

Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky and the Boeing Co. are still fabricating parts for the first Defiant, which is their entrant in the Army-run Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR TD) program. 

It will also have the strength and power to carry more cargo than the average helicopters, but Lockheed is not giving all of its secrets away – it has yet to release the range and payload capacity

It will also have the strength and power to carry more cargo than the average helicopters, but Lockheed is not giving all of its secrets away – it has yet to release the range and payload capacity

 

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