Sikorsky Aircraft
An illustration of Sikorsky’s HEX demonstrator VTOL aircraft.

Sikorsky Working on Hybrid VTOL Technologies

Feb. 28, 2024
A development program underway now is prioritizing high-speed vertical takeoff/landing aircraft with varying degrees of electrification and autonomous capabilities, and a range of more than 500 miles.

Sikorsky announced a plan to build, test, and fly a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a tilt-wing configuration, the first of a series of HEX/VTOLs that the Lockheed Martin subsidiary intends to develop with different degrees of electrification plus autonomous capabilities.

The Sikorsky hybrid-electric (HEX) development program will prioritize designs for aircraft with greater-than-500-nautical-mile range at high speed, as well as fewer mechanical systems in order to reduce design complexity and maintenance costs.

“Autonomy and electrification will bring transformational change to flight safety and operational efficiency of large VTOL aircraft,” stated Sikorsky president Paul Lemmo. “Our HEX demonstrator program will provide valuable insights as we look to a future family of aircraft built to the scale and preferred configurations relevant to commercial and military customers.”

The company’s prototyping group, called Sikorsky Innovations, is working with GE Aerospace to build a hybrid-electric power systems testbed with a 600-kW electric motor. Sikorsky Innovations was formed in 2010 to develop technologies that improve rotary wing speed and apply autonomy and intelligence to VTOL aircraft.

The testbed will be used to evaluate hover performance of the HEX demonstrator — a 9,000-lbs. maximum gross weight aircraft with 1.2-MW-class turbogenerator and associated power electronics.

“Within Sikorsky’s electric pillar, we are designing electric motors, power electronics, and our own vehicle management hardware and actuation,” stated Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations director. HEX will integrate these components, showcase the growing maturity of our MATRIX™ autonomy suite, and the potential for maintenance-free systems. Seeing the results will lead us to more efficient overall designs.”

Latest from News

Mariusz Pietranek
ID 342142588 © Mariusz Pietranek | Dreamstime.com
Fiber Materials Inc./Spirit AeroSystems
A carbon/carbon fiber component structure produced by Fiber Materials Inc.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Patriot anti-ICBM system.
Pavel Kapysh | Dreamstime
Company logo is visible on Boeing site.