High-Speed Vertical Lift Aircraft Moves Forward in DARPA Program

Bell’s high-speed vertical lift demonstrator, designated X-76, has passed its Critical Design Review and will move into the build phase. The X-76 is part of DARPA’s SPRINT program, a joint effort with US Special Operations Command, aiming to demonstrate an aircraft capable of cruising at over 400 knots while hovering in austere environments. The program’s success could address a long-standing tradeoff in aviation, between the speed of fixed-wing aircraft and the flexibility of vertical lift platforms. According to AeroTime, the X-76 will feature first-of-its-kind stop/fold technology and is planned for Phase 3 flight testing in early 2028.