In 2021, Bell showed off three aircraft concepts under the High-Speed Vertical Takeoff (HSVTOL) project. It combines the vertical takeoff capabilities of the Bell V-280 Valor helicopter with the ability to fly horizontally using jet engines.
This concept aircraft was selected by DARPA for the second phase of the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) project last year. Yesterday, DARPA announced that the SPRINT program will move to its third phase with the aircraft now using the official name Bell X-76 with an official flight target by 2028.
Bell was chosen because they had already successfully tested a folding propeller system when the aircraft flew horizontally last year. The original HSVTOL concept consisted of a cargo plane, an infantry carrier aircraft and another in the form of a small drone. The Bell X-76 will have a human-piloted or water-flying version.
The Bell X-76 wants to be used to produce a cargo plane that can land and take off anywhere vertically. In airplane mode and with the helicopter propeller folded, it flies at speeds of over 400 knots. When it needs to land, the propellers are opened again and it operates like a helicopter. It needs to be able to fly without conventional runways and inaccessible areas.
This is because the US Army wants to be prepared in case of an island-crossing war in Asia if China wants to expand its power. The cargo plane to be built will be equipped with a 40-meter-wide wingspan with a 40-foot-wide cargo bay.
In addition to investing funds in the development program of this hybrid aircraft, the USAF is also developing a Rocket Cargo system that can deliver military needs to any location in the world within an hour using rockets. SpaceX and Rocket Lab Inc have been selected with each rocket having to carry up to 82 tons of cargo, which is the same capacity as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane currently in use.
