Boeing high-speed Phantom Swift aircraft selected for DARPA VTOL program
NewsMarch 20, 2014
ST. LOUIS. Boeing’s Phantom Swift prototype has been chosen to be part of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) X-plane program.
Under the $17 million contract with DARPA, Boeing will continue to develop the Phantom Swift technology to enable vertical take-offs and landings, hovering capabilities, and 400 knot speeds. "Proving these capabilities in a single aircraft has been the holy grail for tactical military aviation," says Dan Newman, Boeing Phantom Works Advanced Vertical Lift capture team lead. "We're confident that Phantom Swift could be the solution."
The Phantom Swift features two large lift fans inside the fuselage that provide efficient vertical lift. Once the aircraft transitions to cruise mode, the fans are then covered. It also features smaller ducted fans on the wingtips that provide forward thrust, and provide additional lift and control in hover mode.
After a 2-year effort involving several competitors, DARPA will select a model for fabrication and flight demonstration.
For more information on the Phantom Swift, visit www.boeing.com.
