Defiant X

DEFIANT X

Revolutionary air assault capability for future vertical lift.

A Revolutionary Helicopter for the U.S. Army

Future wars will not be fought like the wars of today.

DEFIANT X is an advanced utility helicopter and air assault weapon system that can fly low and fast, land quickly, deliver soldiers to the objective area (known as the “X”) and get out — all while evading the enemy in complex terrain.

It’s an agile, maneuverable aircraft that flies twice as far and twice as fast as the Black Hawk helicopter it will replace — and sits in the same operational footprint.

DEFIANT X builds on the handling qualities and transformational capabilities proven by SB>1 DEFIANT, a Sikorsky-Boeing technology demonstrator helping to inform the U.S. Army’s future vertical lift requirements. Combined with our team’s unsurpassed experience in mission systems, training and sustainment, DEFIANT X will significantly advance the Army’s air assault capability with limited changes in tactics, techniques, procedures, training and infrastructure.

DEFIANT X is purposefully designed for the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Air Assault competition, a top modernization priority, and will revolutionize the way the Army meets threats in 2035 and beyond.

It will be the fastest, most maneuverable and most survivable military helicopter in history.

Survivability. Maneuverability. Sustainability. Versatility.

Total force protection starts with unmatched tactical maneuverability “at the X.”

With its rigid coaxial rotor system and pusher propeller, DEFIANT X incorporates proven Sikorsky X2 Technology™ to operate at high speeds while maintaining low-speed handling qualities.

This allows DEFIANT X to deliver speed where it matters – through tree lines, river beds, mountain ranges or contested urban environments – providing soldiers with unmatched maneuverability and survivability in high-threat air defense environments.

This critical capability allows crews to penetrate enemy defenses while reducing exposure to enemy fire, so they can quickly insert and extract soldiers with all their mission equipment in position – when seconds matter.

DEFIANT X is also optimized for:

  • Operational effectiveness in multi-domain operations (MDO) and Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) environments, with the ability to connect all battlefield assets
  • Sustainment, including extended maintenance-free operating periods, ease of maintenance in austere environments, reduced forward logistics burdens and long-term affordability
  • Interoperability with current aircraft, techniques and infrastructure

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    Team DEFIANT

    Together, Sikorsky and Boeing have built 90 percent of the U.S. Army’s current military rotorcraft and have totaled more than 15 million flight hours. We’re the team that has brought forward iconic military rotorcraft including Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache.

    Our team’s expertise in advanced manufacturing, testing and producing cutting-edge rotorcraft configurations has further advanced our understanding of the Army’s mission – enabling us to provide a flexible, agile, advanced solution with adaptable software and systems for future growth across multiple missions.

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