{
 "slug": "new-vtol-technologies-boost-special-operations-capabilities-aurora-flight-sciences-and-bell-textron-lead-initial-development",
 "title": "DARPA SPRINT: Bell Wins X-Plane, and the Race to Reinvent VTOL",
 "url": "https://www.grosswald.org/new-vtol-technologies-boost-special-operations-capabilities-aurora-flight-sciences-and-bell-textron-lead-initial-development/",
 "canonical": "https://www.grosswald.org/new-vtol-technologies-boost-special-operations-capabilities-aurora-flight-sciences-and-bell-textron-lead-initial-development/",
 "type": "article",
 "published": "2024-10-30T01:24:37.000+01:00",
 "updated": "2026-03-08T18:24:16.000+01:00",
 "excerpt": "Bell Textron won the DARPA SPRINT Phase 2 contract in July 2025 with a stop/fold tiltrotor design — rotors that fold mid-flight for jet-speed cruise at 400–450 knots. Aurora was eliminated. The X-plane demonstrator targets first flight in 2028. FY2026 budget: US$55.2 million.",
 "countries": [],
 "domains": [
  "industry"
 ],
 "capabilities": [
  "air"
 ],
 "tags": [
  "air-space",
  "defense-industry"
 ],
 "sources": [],
 "entities": [],
 "inferred": {
  "countries": [],
  "domains": [],
  "capabilities": []
 }
}