Aurora-Boeing's SPRINT Program Advances High-Speed, Vertical Lift Concept to Preliminary Design Phase

Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, has completed the conceptual design review for a high-speed, vertical lift X-plane and has been selected to progress to the preliminary design review phase.

This development is part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program called Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT). The program aims to develop an X-plane that combines high speed with runway independence.

The new aircraft concept features a low-drag, fan-in-wing demonstrator that integrates a blended wing body platform, offering both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and high-speed performance. This approach aims to revolutionize air mobility and Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions. Renderings of the demonstrator show three lift fans, a refined composite exterior, and an uncrewed cockpit, which simplifies the design and streamlines the path to flight testing. The fan-in-wing (FIW) technology can be scaled for future aircraft needs and could potentially support a future family of systems.

The blended wing body platform is designed to achieve a cruise speed of 450 knots, with lift fans that transition smoothly from vertical to horizontal flight. Existing engine solutions are leveraged to reduce development risk and timelines. The aircraft supports multiple take-off and landing modes, including short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL), super short take-off and landing (SSTOL), and conventional take-off and landing.

The DARPA SPRINT program provides an opportunity to advance technology demonstrator programs for new military capabilities. The team aims to complete the preliminary design review in approximately 12 months, with the goal of achieving the first flight within 36 months.