WASHINGTON - Sikorsky plans to offer the Raider X, a compound coaxial helicopter, for the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. The design is based on research and testing of its high-speed X2 technology demonstrator and S-97 Raider test aircraft, the company says. The X2's rigid rotor is designed to provide increased performance compared to traditional helicopters, including highly responsive maneuverability, enhanced low-speed hover, off-axis hover, and level acceleration and braking.
To date, X2 test aircraft have demonstrated speeds in excess of 250 knots, high altitude operations in excess of 9,000 feet, low-speed and high-speed maneuver envelopes out to 60+ degrees angle of bank, and ADS-33B (Aeronautical Design Standard) Level 1 handling qualities with multiple pilots, according to Lockheed Martin.
"It combines the best elements of low-speed helicopter performance with the cruise performance of an airplane," said Sikorsky experimental test pilot Bill Fell, a retired Army pilot who has flown nearly every Raider test flight. "Every flight we take in our S-97 Raider today reduces risk and optimizes our FARA prototype, Raider X."
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