Sikorsky Aircraft has announced plans to build and test a demonstrator for a new class of coaxial X2 Technology helicopters that maintain or improve upon all the vertical flight capabilities of rotorcraft and whose high-speed version will cruise at 250 knots.

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The top cruise speed of helicopters in service today, roughly 150 knots to 170 knots, is only incrementally better than what it was decades ago due to the fundamental limits of conventional rotor systems.

X2 Technology refers to a suite of technologies Sikorsky will apply to achieve new levels of speed and performance in coaxial helicopters. Coaxial helicopters feature two counter-rotating rotors on the same vertical axis. Previous attempts to develop faster helicopters have degraded hover performance. Likewise, attempts at fixed wing or hybrid vertical lift aircraft have resulted in aircraft with less hover capability than helicopters. X2 Technology aircraft will hover, land vertically, maneuver at low speeds, and transition seamlessly from hover to forward flight like a helicopter. In a high-speed configuration, one or more 'pusher props' are part of an integrated auxiliary propulsion system to enable high speed with no need to physically reconfigure the aircraft in flight.

Sikorsky plans to build and fly its X2 Technology demonstrator helicopter at its Schweizer Aircraft subsidiary by the end of 2006. Preliminary design work for the demonstrator is finished and parts fabrication for the aircraft has commenced.