Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky announced Monday that it has successfully proven the capabilities of a next-generation “rotor-blown wing” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system in extensive flight tests earlier this year. The unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of flying like a helicopter or airplane, and has a design that the company says could be produced on a larger scale in the future. The aircraft is a 115-kilogram, battery-powered, twin-propeller model that also requires a hybrid-electric propulsion system, Sikorsky said.
New Design: Fly Faster and Farther
Rich Benton, Sikorsky's Vice President and General Manager, said in a statement that these aircraft are designed to fly faster and farther than traditional helicopters. This statement stands out as an important indicator of the technological advances Sikorsky has developed in recent years. The aircraft combines the advantages of helicopters with the ability to take off and land vertically, with the high-speed cruising capacity of aircraft.
Hybrid Electric Technology and Flight Tests
Sikorsky’s rotor-blown wing UAV has begun flight testing after a year of development by the company’s rapid prototyping group, Sikorsky Innovations. As of January 2025, the aircraft has successfully completed more than 40 takeoffs and landings. The tests also saw the aircraft successfully transition between helicopter and airplane modes by 30 times, described as some of the most complex maneuvers of the design.
Sikorsky said the new generation of UAVs can reach a maximum cruising speed of 86 knots (about 160 km/h), laying the groundwork for much larger, longer-range versions in the future. “Our rotor-blown wing has demonstrated the ability to transition from hovering to high-speed wing cruise flight,” said Igor Cherepinsky, Director of Sikorsky Innovations. Cherepinsky emphasized that this transition is possible with a system that requires new control laws and works efficiently.
Future Uses and Potential
Sikorsky is expanding the potential use cases of this new generation UAV across a wide range. The company predicts that this UAV could play an important role in areas such as search and rescue, firefighting, monitoring, humanitarian relief efforts and pipeline surveillance. It is also stated that larger versions will be able to successfully carry out long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and perform manned-unmanned teamwork.
Emerging Technologies and Future Plans
Sikorsky is reportedly planning to integrate the MATRIX flight autonomy system into all UAV variants. The company is also developing a hybrid-electric tilt-wing demonstrator aircraft called HEX, which is large enough to carry passengers or cargo on long-distance flights. The HEX, which has a power output of 1,2 megawatts, could be a significant milestone for Sikorsky’s future projects. Sikorsky plans to demonstrate the HEX’s hovering capability in 2027.
Sikorsky's Strategic Goals and Competition
Sikorsky’s developments come after the cancellation of the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, in which the company competed with a coaxial rotor-wing aircraft called the Raider X. Sikorsky did not retract its promise of the X2 coaxial helicopter technology following this cancellation and continues to offer the technology to potential customers.
Before that, the Sikorsky-Boeing partnership presented a larger version of the Raider X called the Defiant. Sikorsky also aims to develop a next-generation helicopter for Italy and the NATO Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability. Lockheed, Airbus and Leonardo were awarded contracts in July 2024 to help NATO develop a new helicopter.
Sikorsky’s rotor-blown wing drone is a major milestone in the aviation industry. Combining the flexibility of helicopters and the speed of airplanes, this innovative design could play a major role in future military and civil operations. The company’s technological advances are set to help it gain a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing world of defense and civil aviation.
