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The '''Sikorsky Raider X''' (stylized in all-caps as '''RAIDER X''') is a [[compound helicopter]] concept with two [[coaxial rotors]] and a single [[Propeller (aeronautics)|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 |
The '''Sikorsky Raider X''' (stylized in all-caps as '''RAIDER X''') ('''Sikorsky S-102'''<ref>[https://sikorskyarchives.com/sikorsky-lifts-the-army/ Sikorsky Lifts the Army]</ref>) is a [[compound helicopter]] concept with two [[coaxial rotors]] and a single [[Propeller (aeronautics)|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. |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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Contracts were awarded in April 2019 to develop concept design candidates for FARA; five different teams were selected, including Sikorsky.<ref name=DN-190423>{{cite news |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2019/04/23/us-army-picks-5-teams-to-design-new-us-army-attack-recon-helicopter/ | |
Contracts were awarded in April 2019 to develop concept design candidates for FARA; five different teams were selected, including Sikorsky.<ref name="DN-190423">{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=23 April 2019 |title=US Army picks 5 teams to design new attack recon helicopter |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2019/04/23/us-army-picks-5-teams-to-design-new-us-army-attack-recon-helicopter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110044307/https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2019/04/23/us-army-picks-5-teams-to-design-new-us-army-attack-recon-helicopter/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=Defense News}}</ref> |
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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.<ref name=ars>{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/10/sikorsky-makes-its-bid-for-armys-next-scout-copter/ | |
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.<ref name="ars">{{cite news |author=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=14 October 2019 |title=Sikorsky makes its bid for Army's next scout copter |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/10/sikorsky-makes-its-bid-for-armys-next-scout-copter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524182117/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/10/sikorsky-makes-its-bid-for-armys-next-scout-copter/ |archive-date=24 May 2023 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |author=Parsons |first=Dan |date=16 March 2020 |title=Bell's Valor, Sikorsky/Boeing Defiant advance in U.S. Army Future Assault Aircraft program |url=https://www.verticalmag.com/news/bell-valor-boeing-sikorsky-defiant-flraa-selection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409121207/https://verticalmag.com/news/bell-valor-boeing-sikorsky-defiant-flraa-selection/ |archive-date=9 April 2023 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Vertical}}</ref> The Sikorsky compound helicopter designs all use coaxial rigid rotors and a pusher propeller, which Sikorsky has collectively named "X2 Technology".<ref>{{cite web |title=Game-changing X2 Technology™ for Future Tactical Missions |url=https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/x2-helicopter-technology-demonstrator.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213122832/https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/x2-helicopter-technology-demonstrator.html |archive-date=13 December 2023 |access-date=26 March 2020 |website=Lockheed Martin}}</ref> |
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On March 25, 2020, the Army selected the Raider X and [[Bell 360 Invictus]] concept design candidates to proceed to an eventual flight competition;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.janes.com/article/95110/us-army-selects-bell-sikorsky-for-fara-cp-programme | |
On March 25, 2020, the Army selected the Raider X and [[Bell 360 Invictus]] concept design candidates to proceed to an eventual flight competition;<ref>{{cite news |author=Host |first=Pat |date=25 March 2020 |title=US Army selects Bell, Sikorsky for FARA-CP programme |url=https://www.janes.com/article/95110/us-army-selects-bell-sikorsky-for-fara-cp-programme |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504002922/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-selects-bell-sikorsky-for-fara-cp-programme |archive-date=4 May 2021 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Jane's Defence Weekly}}</ref> 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.<ref name="DN-181003">{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=3 October 2018 |title=US Army triggers design competition for future attack reconnaissance helicopter |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/10/03/us-army-triggers-design-competition-for-future-attack-reconnaissance-helicopter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110035325/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/10/03/us-army-triggers-design-competition-for-future-attack-reconnaissance-helicopter/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date=15 October 2019 |work=Defense News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Reim |first=Garrett |date=25 March 2020 |title=US Army selects Bell and Sikorsky to build FARA prototypes |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/us-army-selects-bell-and-sikorsky-to-build-fara-prototypes/137538.article |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408162912/https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/us-army-selects-bell-and-sikorsky-to-build-fara-prototypes/137538.article |archive-date=8 April 2020 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=FlightGlobal}}</ref> Sikorsky had already begun construction of its Raider X prototype by February 2020.<ref>{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=20 February 2020 |title=Lockheed's Raider X enters construction in advance of US Army's decision on way forward |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/02/20/lockheeds-raider-x-already-under-construction/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200224063938/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/02/20/lockheeds-raider-x-already-under-construction/ |archive-date=24 February 2020 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Defense News}}</ref> |
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The US Army is cancelling its next generation Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, service officials announced on 8 February 2024,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Everstine |first1=Brian |last2=Trimble |first2=Steve |title=U.S. Army Cancels FARA In Overhaul Of Aviation Plans |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/us-army-cancels-fara-overhaul-aviation-plans |access-date= 10 February 2024 |work=Aviation Week Intelligence Network |publisher=Informa Markets |date= 8 February 2024}}</ref> taking a potential multi-billion-dollar contract off the table and throwing the service’s long-term aviation plans into doubt. |
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==Design== |
==Design== |
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The Raider X, as required by FARA program specifications, is designed to use a single [[General Electric T901]] engine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ge.com/reports/blades-of-glory-meet-raider-x-americas-next-gen-chopper/ | |
The Raider X, as required by FARA program specifications, is designed to use a single [[General Electric T901]] engine.<ref>{{cite web |author=Worley |first=Sam |date=17 October 2019 |title=Meet Raider-X, America's Next-Gen Chopper |url=https://www.ge.com/reports/blades-of-glory-meet-raider-x-americas-next-gen-chopper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113023943/https://www.ge.com/news/reports/blades-of-glory-meet-raider-x-americas-next-gen-chopper |archive-date=13 November 2021 |access-date=26 March 2020 |website=Blades of Glory [blog] |publisher=General Electric}}</ref> The GE T901 was developed under the Army's [[Improved Turbine Engine Program]] as the new engine for existing and future Army rotorcraft.<ref>{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=15 April 2019 |title=Army sees path to accelerate ITEP engine program with GE |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2019/04/15/army-sees-path-to-accelerate-itep-engine-program-with-ge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190415132803/https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2019/04/15/army-sees-path-to-accelerate-itep-engine-program-with-ge/ |archive-date=15 April 2019 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Defense News}}</ref> Based on S-97 and X2 performance, Raider X is expected to have a maximum speed exceeding {{convert|250|kn|abbr=on}} with a service ceiling greater than {{convert|9000|ft}}.<ref name=ars/> Sikorsky considers the S-97 to be an 80% scale model of Raider X; Raider X is expected to weigh {{convert|14000|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news |author=Parsons |first=Dan |date=14 October 2019 |title=Sikorsky reveals Raider X for Army's FARA program |url=https://www.verticalmag.com/news/sikorsky-reveals-raider-x-for-armys-fara-program/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119050959/https://verticalmag.com/news/sikorsky-reveals-raider-x-for-armys-fara-program/ |archive-date=19 January 2022 |access-date=26 March 2020 |work=Vertical}}</ref> [[Swift Engineering]] will design and build the fuselage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2019 |title=Swift Engineering Selected for the Design and Construction of FARA Airframe for Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company |url=https://www.swiftengineering.com/press/swift-engineering-selected-for-the-design-and-construction-of-fara-airframe-for-sikorsky-a-lockheed-martin-company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601062839/https://www.swiftengineering.com/press/swift-engineering-selected-for-the-design-and-construction-of-fara-airframe-for-sikorsky-a-lockheed-martin-company/ |archive-date=1 June 2023 |website=Swift Engineering}}</ref> |
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The cockpit uses side-by-side seats instead of the [[Tandem#aviation|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.<ref name=ars/> |
The cockpit uses side-by-side seats instead of the [[Tandem#aviation|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.<ref name=ars/> |
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Latest revision as of 08:37, 28 February 2024
| Raider X | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance and attack compound helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Developed from | Sikorsky S-97 |
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.
Development[edit]
Contracts 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.
Design[edit]
The Raider X, as required by FARA program specifications, is designed to use a single General Electric T901 engine.[11] The GE T901 was developed under the Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program as the new engine for existing and future Army rotorcraft.[12] 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).[13] Swift Engineering will design and build the fuselage.[14]
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)[edit]
General 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[edit]
Related 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.
- ^ 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