New Design Aims to Combine 400+ Kts Top Speed, Low Downwash, Long Range, and Survivability in a Single Aircraft

Bell Textron has announced the impending development of a High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) aircraft, tapping in the Sierra Nevada Corporation for support in the developmental process. 

Bell’s HSVTOL aircraft will aim for similar, but loftier design targets as their V-22 Osprey, the only VTOL aircraft in the lineup that could approach fixed-wing speeds in level flight. The yet-unnamed HSVTOL is hoped to “blend the hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range and survivability features of a fighter aircraft” at speeds greater than 400 knots. During vertical flight, the aircraft will aim to offer low downwash hover capability as well as some low-observability measures. How close the final concept aircraft will come to fulfilling those metrics is up in the air, but Bell VP of innovation, Jason Hurst, is confident that both companies can meet the challenge together. 

“In an effort to advance technical maturity and deliver HSVTOL capability to warfighters sooner, Bell is assembling a team of industry-leading partners. We’re thrilled to have Sierra Nevada Corporation onboard. We’ve made significant progress in Bell’s HSVTOL technology development in 2022, and we look forward to showing this progress in the upcoming year.”

“SNC is delighted to join the Bell’s HSVTOL development team, and we are already hard at work to deliver the visionary mission systems that Bell demands for their visionary aircraft,” says Derek Hess, vice president, of strategic program business development at SNC. “Our nation’s warfighters will benefit from this HSVTOL program’s ground-breaking operational capabilities.”

Sierra Nevada Corp will focus on bringing its mission systems expertise to the fold, much like they do on another Bell program underway, the 360 Invictus. That helicopter is a promising design for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft competition and may be an important step in the right direction.

FMI: www.bellflight.com