Aurora Notches More DARPA Funding for Its X-Plane Contender

The DARPA program is looking for a candidate that can fly at speeds up to 450 knots, hover 'in a stable manner' and transition to forward flight.

Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 10:34 AM ET

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Aurora Flight Science aircraft under development for a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program called Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT). [Courtesy: Aurora Flight Science]

Key Takeaways:

Aurora Flight Sciences has completed the conceptual design phase for its experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) X-Plane for DARPA and received a significant $25 million contract modification to advance development.
The X-Plane program seeks an aircraft capable of speeds between 400-450 knots (faster than the V-22 Osprey), stable hovering, and smooth transitions from hover to forward flight, utilizing a distributed energy system.
Aurora, a Boeing subsidiary, is the sole competitor among four (including Bell, Northrop Grumman, and Piasecki) to receive upgraded funding, indicating its leading position in the SPRINT program.
The company aims to finish the preliminary design review within a year and achieve the first flight of its uncrewed X-Plane entry within three years.

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Defense News has reported Aurora Flight Sciences has completed its conceptual design of an experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for the Pentagon and is moving on to the next phase.

On April 30, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Aurora a $25 million contract modification to continue working on its version of the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) entry, a notable boost from the previous $4.2 million award.