Twin Proprotor Shows Flight Stability, Maneuverability Across Flight Regimes

Sikorsky announced its successful validation of advanced control laws to fly a prototype battery-powered rotor blown wing concept UAS in both helicopter and airplane models. Sikorsky made the announcement at this week’s HAI Verticon 2025 in Dallas, Texas, and said the 115-lb twin proprotor concept aircraft demonstrated operational stability and maneuverability across all regimes of flight including the transition from rotor-borne to wing-borne flight.

The aircraft has a 10.3-foot composite wingspan and in January it completed more than 40 takeoffs and landings and over 30 transitions between helicopter and airplane modes. While in horizontal flight, the aircraft reached a top cruise speed of 86 knots.

Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations Director said the data indicate, “we can operate from pitching ships decks and unprepared ground when scaled to much larger sizes.”

Rich Benton, VP and General Manager at Sikorsky said, “Combining helicopter and airplane flight characteristics onto a flying wing reflects Sikorsky’s drive to innovate next-generation VTOL UAS aircraft that can fly faster and farther than traditional helicopters.”

Potential applications for the aircraft include search and rescue, monitoring firefighting activities and ground personnel, humanitarian and disaster response, and pipeline surveillance. Larger-size variants will be capable of long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and piloted-drone teaming (both crewed and uncrewed).

All rotor blown wing variants are intended to be equipped with Sikorsky’s Matrix flight autonomy system. 

FMI:  www.lockheedmartin.com/