Sikorsky successfully demonstrates rotor blown wing uncrewed aircraft system
Across helicopter and aircraft modes
Sikorsky has achieved a significant milestone by successfully validating the advanced control laws for a rotor blown wing uncrewed aerial system (UAS). The 52kg twin prop-rotor prototype has demonstrated stable and responsive flight across helicopter and aircraft modes, significantly advancing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft technology.
Powered by batteries, the prototype has shown its ability to transition smoothly between hovering in a helicopter mode and fast, efficient forward flight in airplane mode. This breakthrough has proven the design’s operational stability and the potential for scaling to larger aircraft requiring hybrid-electric propulsion.
Rich Benton, Sikorsky Vice President and General Manager, highlighted the importance of this innovation, stating: “Combining helicopter and airplane flight characteristics onto a flying wing reflects Sikorsky’s drive to innovate next-generation VTOL UAS aircraft that can fly faster and farther than traditional helicopters.
“Our rotor blown wing platform is a prime example of leveraging our 102 years of aviation heritage to develop new designs that meet the evolving needs of commercial and military operators.”
The rotor blown wing UAS features a unique tail-sitter design, a crucial aspect that allows the aircraft to transition between modes smoothly. In January 2025, Sikorsky Innovations, the company’s rapid prototyping group, achieved a significant breakthrough when the 3.14m wingspan aircraft completed over 40 take-offs and landings.
The most impressive feat was performing 30 transitions between helicopter and airplane modes, the most complex manoeuvre for this design. During horizontal flight, the aircraft reached a top cruise speed of 86 knots, further validating the system’s performance.
Wind tunnel testing on a 1:1 scale model was conducted simultaneously to provide critical data that confirmed the newly developed control laws. The correlation of real-world experimental data with simulations ensured the successful transition between hovering and high-speed flight.
Igor Cherepinsky, Director of Sikorsky Innovations, noted: “Our rotor blown wing has demonstrated the control power and unique handling qualities necessary to transition repeatedly and predictably from a hover to high-speed wing-borne cruise flight, and back again.
“New control laws were essential for this transition to work seamlessly and efficiently. Our data shows we can operate from pitching ship decks and unprepared ground when scaled to much larger sizes.”
Sikorsky envisions many potential applications for future rotor blown wing UAS. These include search and rescue, firefighting monitoring, humanitarian response, and pipeline surveillance. Large-scale variants will further enhance long-range capabilities, supporting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and piloted/uncrewed teaming operations.
The rotor blown wing UAS will also integrate Sikorsky’s Matrix flight autonomy system, enabling the aircraft to operate autonomously during flight.
This rotor-blown wing design is part of a broader family of systems being developed by Sikorsky. In addition to winged VTOL UAS, the company is working on a 1.2 megawatt hybrid-electric demonstrator (HEX) with a tilt-wing configuration, designed to transport passengers or cargo over long distances. A HEX power system testbed is scheduled for a hover capability demonstration in 2027.
Images: Sikorsky has proven that a rotor-blown wing tail sitter drone can transition easily between helicopter and fixed-wing flight modes. Credit: Sikorsky
