Bell Selected to Build High-Speed Runway-Independent X-Plane for DARPA

Bell Textron Inc. has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase 2 of the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-plane program, moving forward to build a high-speed, runway-independent demonstrator aircraft.

Phase 2 includes detailed design, construction, ground testing, and certification of the X-plane. DARPA confirmed Bell as the sole contractor for this phase, following competition from Aurora Flight Sciences, Northrop Grumman, and Piasecki Aircraft Corp.

Jointly managed by DARPA and U.S. Special Operations Command, the SPRINT program seeks to develop aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, cruising at 400 to 450 knots, and operating from unprepared or austere environments. Bell’s design incorporates “stop/fold” technology—a tilting rotor system used for takeoff and hover that folds away in flight to reduce drag, allowing jet propulsion to achieve higher speeds.

In Phases 1A and 1B, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary design work. Risk reduction efforts included demonstrations of folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as wind tunnel testing at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research.

DARPA is requesting $55.2 million for fiscal year 2026 for the SPRINT program. Bell’s X-plane is scheduled for completion in 2027, with flight testing expected in 2028 as part of Phase 3.

The aircraft is designed for uncrewed and sea-based operations, offering potential utility in regions like the Indo-Pacific, where airstrips are limited. Bell’s work on SPRINT continues its legacy of high-speed vertical lift and experimental aircraft development, including projects like the X-14, X-22, XV-3, XV-15, and the Bell X-1.

Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing subsidiary, acknowledged its elimination from Phase 2 and said its fan-in-wing design validated key performance metrics during Phase 1. The company said it intends to apply that technology to future vertical lift programs.

Separately, Bell is also developing the V-280 Valor aircraft for the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, which is now being accelerated.