The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has officially named the experimental aircraft developed under the Speed and Runway-Independent Technology (SPRINT) program as X-76. The aircraft has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) phase. It is being built by Bell Textron, Inc.
Runway Independence and High Speed
The SPRINT program is a joint initiative between DARPA and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The project combines the high speed of fixed-wing aircraft with the runway-independent operational capability of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms. These features are integrated in a single airframe.
The X-76 demonstrator aims to mature the following technical capabilities:
- Cruise speeds above 400 knots.
- Ability to hover in challenging environments.
- Operations from unprepared surfaces.
Program Schedule and Phases
The Phase 2 process, which began in May 2025 with Bell’s selection, focuses on aircraft production, integration, assembly, and ground testing. Following this, Phase 3 is scheduled to start in early 2028. During this phase, flight testing will be conducted.
Strategic Options
DARPA SPRINT Program Manager Commander Ian Higgins explains the project’s goal:
“Runways have long been both an opportunity and a constraint; they provided speed but also created a critical vulnerability. With SPRINT, we’re not just building an X-plane; we’re building options. We aim to deliver the option to surprise, the option for rapid reinforcement, and the option for life-saving speed anywhere in the world, without requiring a runway.”
The X-76 name continues the tradition of X-planes in aviation history. It also references the revolutionary spirit of 1776, in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
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Source: C4Defence– DARPA
