Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] Sikorsky business unit on Tuesday disclosed plans to build, test, and fly a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing demonstrator (HEX/VTOL) aircraft with a tilt-wing configuration for potential commercial and military applications.
The HEX demonstrator is being developed by Sikorsky’s Innovations unit, which is targeting a power systems testbed and follow-on demonstrator over the next two to five years. The company is seeking an aircraft with a range of at least 500 nautical miles at high speed and lower operating costs.
Sikorsky is working with General Electric
’s [GE] Aerospace segment to finalize plans to design a hybrid-electric power systems testbed with a 600-kilowatt electric motor in preparation to evaluate hover performance for the follow-on HEX demonstrator aircraft. Sikorsky said the HEX would have a 9,000-pound maximum gross weight and a 1.2 megawatt-class turbogenerator.
HEX will also demonstrate Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy software.
“Autonomy and electrification will bring transformational change to flight safety and operational efficiency of large VTOL aircraft,” Paul Lemmo, president of Sikorsky, said in a statement. “Our HEX demonstrator program will provide valuable insights as we look to a future family of aircraft built to the scale and preferred configurations relevant to commercial and military customers.”
The Air Force, through its AFWERX Agility Prime innovation effort, has been working with commercial electric VTOL companies to help accelerate to market the dual-use aircraft.