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Sikorsky Showcasing the S-97 RAIDER Helicopter for the First Time to the Public at AUSA 2015.
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AUSA 2015
U.S. Army Annual Meeting & Exposition 12 - 14 October 2015 Washington D.C., United States |
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S-97 Raider at AUSA 2015
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| Sikorsky Showcasing the S-97 RAIDER Helicopter for the First Time to the Public at AUSA 2015 | |||
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At this year’s Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting (AUSA 2015), Sikorsky is showcasing the new S-97 RAIDER Helicopter for the first time to the public. The helicopter on display is aircraft #2. The S-97 RAIDER is a rigid coaxial rotor helicopter designed to demonstrate a game-changing combination of maneuverability, hover ability, range, speed, endurance and survivability. The first flight was conducted on May 22nd this year.
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 Sikorsky S-97 RAIDER aircraft #2 at AUSA 2015 |
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Sikorsky launched the S-97 RAIDER helicopter program in September 2010, with objectives of maturing the Collier-Award winning X2™ rotorcraft configuration and demonstrating a helicopter that meets current U.S. Army special operations and armed reconnaissance needs, while maturing technologies for Future Vertical Lift (FVL). The program is 100 percent industry-funded by Sikorsky Aircraft and its 53 industry partners.
Based on the X2 coaxial rotor design, the RAIDER™ helicopter is capable of being developed into a unique multi-mission configuration that is able to carry six troops and external weapons. The coaxial counter-rotating main rotors and pusher propeller are expected to provide cruise speeds up to 240 knots (276 mph). Talking at AUSA 2015, Sikorsky RAIDER test pilot explained that the S-97 RAIDER is characterized by low noise signature, low pilot workload and high speed. The helicopter is able to sustain 3G maneuvrability and 600 km range. The 6.5 feet propeller at the back allows to accelerate and decelerate without pointing the nose of the RAIDER up or down. The foot print of the RAIDER is smaller than the Kiowa Warrier helicopter footprint. Currently, the S-97 program is at 47 ground test hours and 2.2 flight test hours. |
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