Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, and Boeing announced six new members of Team DEFIANT. These supplier teammates will join the team to support DEFIANT X, the advanced helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition.
Joining the team are:
- ATI, Cudahy, Wisconsin: gearbox forgings
- Collins Aerospace, Windsor Locks, Connecticut: Perigon flight control and vehicle management computer; and Colorado Springs, Colorado: aircraft seats
- Parker Aerospace, Irvine, California: flight controls; and Kalamazoo, Michigan: hydraulic pumps and modules
- Magnaghi Aeronautica, Medford, New York: landing gear
- Marotta Controls, Boonton, New Jersey: electrical power system components
These companies were selected based on exceptional performance and experience supporting the U.S. Army’s venerable Black Hawks, Apaches and Chinooks. The team’s exceptional performance will continue to ensure efficiency and affordability throughout DEFIANT X’s lifecycle, by embracing the Army’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) requirements and continuing to embrace advanced manufacturing techniques already used to design and manufacture the Army’s current fleet.
The team previously announced that Honeywell will provide its new HTS7500 turboshaft engine to power DEFIANT X.
Also this week, the Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 DEFIANT helicopter arrived in Nashville to give U.S. Army Aviators a first-hand look at the aircraft at the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual summit.
Army aviators at the summit will be able to see how Team DEFIANT is revolutionizing Future Vertical Lift, one of the Army’s top modernization priorities, with a focus on transforming the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program’s capabilities, production and sustainment resulting in lower-life cycle costs. The result is DEFIANT X a complete weapon system that builds on the handling qualities and capabilities proven by the team’s technology demonstrator, SB>1 DEFIANT.
The contract award for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft is expected this year.
