The Sikorsky Raider X (stylized in all-caps as RAIDER X) (Sikorsky S-102[1]) is a compound helicopter concept with two coaxial rotors and a single pusher propeller, designed by the Sikorsky Aircraft division of Lockheed Martin for the United States Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. The Raider X concept was announced in October 2019. In March 2020, the Army selected the Raider X and the Bell 360 Invictus from a field of five design concept candidates. The Raider X and 360 Invictus concepts were to be built as flying prototypes for a competition scheduled for 2023. The FARA program was cancelled in 2024.
| Raider X | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance and attack compound helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Developed from | Sikorsky S-97 |
Development
editContracts were awarded in April 2019 to develop concept design candidates for FARA; five different teams were selected, including Sikorsky.[2]
Sikorsky presented the Raider X concept candidate at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army on October 14, 2019. The Raider X concept was derived from the earlier Sikorsky S-97 Raider, which had been developed for the Army's Armed Aerial Scout program; the S-97 was in turn developed from the Sikorsky X2 prototype compound coaxial helicopter.[3] A larger Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant was also developed from the X2 under the Army's Future Vertical Lift program to create a joint multi-role rotorcraft; the SB-1 was a candidate for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program.[4] The Sikorsky compound helicopter designs all use coaxial rigid rotors and a pusher propeller, which Sikorsky has collectively named "X2 Technology".[5]
On March 25, 2020, the Army selected the Raider X and Bell 360 Invictus concept design candidates to proceed to an eventual flight competition;[6] flying prototypes of each candidate design will be constructed, followed by test flights in 2022 leading up to a competitive flying demonstration no later than fall 2023.[7][8] Sikorsky had already begun construction of its Raider X prototype by February 2020.[9]
The US Army is cancelling its next generation Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, service officials announced on 8 February 2024,[10] taking a potential multi-billion-dollar contract off the table and throwing the service’s long-term aviation plans into doubt.
Raider X was powered up in April 2024, but Sikorsky has no plans for flights.[11]
Design
editThe Raider X, as required by FARA program specifications, is designed to use a single General Electric T901 engine.[12] The GE T901 was developed under the Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program as the new engine for existing and future Army rotorcraft.[13] Based on S-97 and X2 performance, Raider X is expected to have a maximum speed exceeding 250 kn (460 km/h; 290 mph) with a service ceiling greater than 9,000 feet (2,700 m).[3] Sikorsky considers the S-97 to be an 80% scale model of Raider X; Raider X is expected to weigh 14,000 lb (6,400 kg).[14] Swift Engineering will design and build the fuselage.[15]
The cockpit uses side-by-side seats instead of the tandem seating typical of American attack helicopters; internal weapons and sensors are mounted using a modular system, in accordance with FARA specifications, to anticipate future upgrades and obsolescence.[3]
Specifications (Raider X)
editGeneral characteristics
- Crew: two
- Powerplant: 1 × General Electric T901 turboshaft, 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) (main powerplant)
- Main rotor diameter: 2 × 39 ft (12 m)
Performance
See also
editRelated development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
edit- ^ Sikorsky Lifts the Army
- ^ Judson, Jen (23 April 2019). "US Army picks 5 teams to design new attack recon helicopter". Defense News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Gallagher, Sean (14 October 2019). "Sikorsky makes its bid for Army's next scout copter". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Parsons, Dan (16 March 2020). "Bell's Valor, Sikorsky/Boeing Defiant advance in U.S. Army Future Assault Aircraft program". Vertical. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Game-changing X2 Technology™ for Future Tactical Missions". Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Host, Pat (25 March 2020). "US Army selects Bell, Sikorsky for FARA-CP programme". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Judson, Jen (3 October 2018). "US Army triggers design competition for future attack reconnaissance helicopter". Defense News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ Reim, Garrett (25 March 2020). "US Army selects Bell and Sikorsky to build FARA prototypes". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Judson, Jen (20 February 2020). "Lockheed's Raider X enters construction in advance of US Army's decision on way forward". Defense News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Everstine, Brian; Trimble, Steve (8 February 2024). "U.S. Army Cancels FARA In Overhaul Of Aviation Plans". Aviation Week Intelligence Network. Informa Markets. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Sikorsky powers up Raider X prototype but has no plans to fly".
- ^ Worley, Sam (17 October 2019). "Meet Raider-X, America's Next-Gen Chopper". Blades of Glory [blog]. General Electric. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Judson, Jen (15 April 2019). "Army sees path to accelerate ITEP engine program with GE". Defense News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Parsons, Dan (14 October 2019). "Sikorsky reveals Raider X for Army's FARA program". Vertical. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Swift Engineering Selected for the Design and Construction of FARA Airframe for Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company". Swift Engineering. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
External links
edit- Raider X at Lockheed Martin