Bell to Build X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Program

Bell Textron Inc. has been down-selected for Phase 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program to complete design, construction, ground testing, and certification of an X-plane demonstrator.

“Bell is honored to have been selected for the next phase of DARPA’s SPRINT program and is excited to demonstrate a brand-new aircraft with the first-ever stop/fold technology,” said Jason Hurst, executive vice president, Engineering. “This is an achievement we’ve been working towards for over 10 years, as we’ve leveraged our nearly 90-year history of X-plane development to bring new technology to our warfighters.”

The goal of the program is to equip these aircraft with the capability to cruise at speeds ranging from 400 to 450 knots at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments from unprepared surfaces. In Phase 1A and 1B, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary design efforts for the SPRINT X-plane. Phase 2 includes detailed design and build culminating in flight test during Phase 3.

In preparation for X-plane development, Bell has completed significant risk reduction activities, including demonstrating folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as wind tunnel testing at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University. Bell has a rich history of breaking barriers and developing high-speed vertical lift technology, pioneering innovative VTOL configurations like the X-14, X-22, XV-3, and XV-15 for NASA, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force. The company continues to build on the legacy of the Bell X-1.