The 115-pound battery-powered drone completed more than 40 take-offs and landings during January 2025 flight tests, executing 30 complex transitions between flight modes and reaching cruise speeds of 86 knots. This breakthrough design enables aircraft that can "fly faster and farther than traditional helicopters," according to Rich Benton, Sikorsky's vice president and general manager.

What makes this achievement particularly notable is the compressed innovation timeline. Sikorsky Innovations, the company's rapid prototyping group, developed the aircraft in just one year – moving from preliminary design through simulation to successful flight testing. This demonstrates the potential for accelerated development cycles in advanced defense platforms.

"Our rotor blown wing has demonstrated the control power and unique handling qualities necessary to transition repeatedly and predictably from a hover to high-speed wing-borne cruise flight, and back again," said Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations director. The company believes the technology can be scaled up to operate from "pitching ships decks and unprepared ground" – critical capabilities for expeditionary military operations.

The technology offers multiple applications across defense and civilian sectors:

• Search and rescue operations

• Firefighting monitoring

• Humanitarian response

• Pipeline surveillance

• Long-range ISR missions

• Manned-unmanned teaming

Sikorsky is already developing a larger 1.2-megawatt hybrid-electric tilt wing demonstrator called HEX, designed to carry passengers or cargo on longer-haul flights, with hover demonstrations targeted for 2027.

This innovation represents a strategic pivot for Sikorsky following the U.S. Army's cancellation of its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program last year, where the company had competed with its Raider X coaxial rotor blade aircraft. Despite that setback, Sikorsky continues advancing its X2 coaxial helicopter technology while pursuing opportunities with Italy and NATO's Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability program.