Bell Textron said it successfully held the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies (SPRINT) program. This milestone allows Bell to begin building the next-generation aircraft demonstrator, recently designated as the X-76.
“Bell is honored to receive the X-76 designation and continue the spirit of American innovation honoring the founding of the United States in 1776,” said Jason Hurst, Bell SVP, Engineering. “This is an important milestone as the Bell and DARPA team advances to a historic first in aviation history and fulfill our mission of developing next-generation vertical-lift aircraft.”
The goal of the SPRINT program, jointly funded by DARPA and U.S. Special Operations Command, is to advance next generation runway independent technologies that can be scaled to different military aircraft through designing an aircraft with the ability to cruise at speeds from 400 to 450 knots (about 460 to 518 miles per hour) at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments from unprepared surfaces. In Phase 1A and 1B, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary design efforts for the SPRINT X-plane. Phase 2 includes detailed design, build, and ground testing culminating in flight test during Phase 3.
"For too long, the runway has been both an enabler and a tether, granting speed but creating a critical vulnerability," said Cmdr. Ian Higgins, U.S. Navy, serving as the DARPA SPRINT program manager. "With SPRINT, we're not just building an X-plane; we're building options. We're working to deliver the option of surprise, the option of rapid reinforcement, and the option of life-saving speed, anywhere on the globe, without needing any runway."
