Jane Edwards
Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky subsidiary have begun testing the SB-1 Defiant coaxial helicopter in preparation for its initial flight as part of the U.S. Army’s Joint Multi-Role program, Defense News reported Wednesday.
The service has started to evaluate two flight demonstrator aircraft – Defiant and Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor – through the JMR initiative in order to determine the requirements for its Future Vertical Lift helicopter program.
Randy Rotte, director of global sales and marketing for cargo helicopters and FVL at Boeing, told the publication the industry team expects Defiant to have its initial flight in the latter part of the summer.
Rich Koucheravy, business development director for FVL at Sikorsky, offered updates on Defiant’s software and hardware components as well as on the aircraft’s powertrain system test bed.
Koucheravy said the Boeing-Sikorsky team has completed testing all platforms aboard the aircraft such as avionics, hydraulics, electric and fuel systems.
