Sikorsky moves forward with Raider programme
Sikorsky has selected Aurora Flight Sciences to design and build two prototype airframes for the Sikorsky S-97 Raider coaxial compound aircraft programme.
Announced by Aurora in a statement on 5 April, the company said it will use the next ‘several years’ to undergo its design and manufacturing role for the helicopter programme at its Columbus, Mississippi facility.
The aircraft will be developed to meet ‘challenging’ weight, strength and stiffness criteria, and will apply Sikorsky’s structural design methodologies.
‘The S-97 Raider programme is based on Sikorsky Aircraft’s development of the next-generation X2 Technology rotary wing demonstrator aircraft, which features twin coaxial counter-rotating main rotors and a pusher propeller,’ the statement said.
‘In addition to flying at nearly twice the speed of a conventional helicopter, the S-97 Raider prototype aircraft will incorporate other key performance parameters critical to combat operations.’
These include increased manoeuvrability, greater endurance, reduced acoustic noise signature, and the ability to operate at high altitudes.
The prototype programme was launched in October for the development of a scout and attack helicopter platform and the company is developing the aircraft to meet the likely requirements of the US Army’s Armed Aerial Scout programme.
Sikorsky’s X2 Technology demonstrator aircraft, which the S-97 will be based on, achieved a speed of 250 knots true air speed in level flight in September 2010, marking the programme’s ultimate speed milestone, and also setting an unofficial speed record for a compound helicopter.
The company said the X2 demonstrator aimed to provide more speed without compromising on hover performance, and to take several new technologies and demonstrate them in a flight environment.
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