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New futuristic helicopters have been teased by US defence tech firm Lockheed Martin

Using a concept called Future Vertical Lift, the US company hopes to build the fastest, most agile helicopters ever.
Using a concept called Future Vertical Lift, the US company hopes to build the fastest, most agile helicopters ever. Using a concept called Future Vertical Lift, the US company hopes to build the fastest, most agile helicopters ever.

Defence technology firm Lockheed Martin has offered a glimpse into what it thinks is the future of combat helicopters with a new concept video showing what it claims will be one of the fastest helicopters ever.

The new video shows futuristic helicopters using what the US company calls its Future Vertical Lift concept, which uses two rotors atop the helicopter and a push rotor at the rear that the firm says helps to make it faster and more agile than previous designs.

The video reveals the new concept is built upon their existing X2 technology – which was used to set an unofficial helicopter speed record of 290 miles per hour in 2010.

The technology is being developed by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky and aerospace giant Boeing.

Lockheed Martin says the Future Vertical Life concept will use the same technology, as well as new vibration control that it says will make it less noisy and easier to control. The result is a craft that is more stable in all areas of flight, the company says.

concept helicopter
concept helicopter
(Lockheed Martin)

The new concept, which the defence firm says will come in both an Assault and Attack variant, will also be able to carry four crew and 12 fully-kitted soldiers.

There has been no confirmation yet on if and when work on the new design could begin, or when the new choppers could come into service.