The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded four prime contracts for Phase 1 of its vertical take-off and landing experimental aircraft (VTOL X-Plane) programme.

The winning companies, namely Aurora Flight Sciences, Boeing, Karem Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft, have all proposed unmanned vehicle designs for the programme, which seeks development of a high-speed VTOL aircraft with the hover capability of a helicopter.

Incorporating multipurpose technologies to varying degrees, all designs reduce the number of systems in a vehicle and its overall mechanical complexity, while boosting performance and enabling new and enhanced capabilities.

DARPA programme manager Ashish Bagai said the selected proposals aim to create new technologies and also incorporate existing ones that have not been successfully developed to date by VTOL designs.

"We’re eager to see if the performers can integrate their ideas into designs that could potentially achieve the performance goals we’ve set," Bagai said.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData

Tick here to opt out of curated industry news, reports, and event updates from Airforce Technology.

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The demonstrator aircraft is also required to carry a useful load of at least 40% of its gross weight, including a payload weighing 15.5% of gross weight.

All companies will submit preliminary designs late next year to enable DARPA to review the designs to make a decision on which to build as a technology demonstrator for planned flight trials in the 2017 to 2018 timeframe.

Image: An artist’s concept of Boeing, Karem and Sikorsky’s VTOL_X Plane programme designs. Photo: courtesy of DARPA.