DARPA's SPRINT X-Plane program pushes the limits of VTOL design, targeting 400+ knot speeds and fully runway independent! advertisement. SimpleFlying.

Rendering showing various X-plane concepts being designed as part of DARPA’s SPRINT program. The presence of a C-130-sized plane in the rendering is also interesting.

The technology demonstrated in the SPRINT X-plane could be scaled to medium and heavy lift aircraft, creating a future family of systems. For example, Aurora envisions a manned, ...

The Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) project is a joint DARPA/U.S. Special Operations Command effort that aims to design, build, and fly an X-plane to demonstrate the key ...

You see, Bell's contribution to SPRINT comes in the form of a tiltrotor, not unlike the V-280 Valor the company is making as part of the US Army-run Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.