LONDON – Sikorsky’s new flagship helicopter the Raider X (CP) competitive prototype is over 85% completed. This is 50% faster than what has been earlier anticipated, compared to its predecessor’s flagship helicopters.
This particular helicopter is designed especially for the United States Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft known FARA.
Sikorsky is part of the Lockheed Martin company branch and has made great progress on the new helicopter prototype. At the time of writing, the helicopter is now in full structure which is meant by weight on wheels in West Palm Beach, Florida at the Sikorsky Development Center.
Impressively, the programme has completed nearly half of what is required by the System Acceptance Test procedures.
Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said: “Our transformational RAIDER X will deliver broad benefits to the Army including the lowest schedule risk and greatest technical maturity of the FARA competitors,”
“With X2 Technology, RAIDER X has the ability to grow, unlike a single-main rotor configuration. We’re looking to the future and we are committed to helping the Army deter threats and defend freedoms well into the 21st century.”
The Sikorsky helicopter is one of the most advanced helicopters out there. It boasts a complex design which leaves its competitors behind. Its features include designs which will increase the combats’ helicopters, range or combat radius, speed, and payload for weaponry and crew-carrying. This meets the requirements of the FARA.
Significantly, the progress for the completion of the Raider X is so great that the second fuselage of the helicopter is completed. The second manufacture serial number is awaiting integration with other systems and is awaiting the Sikorsky structural test program.
These tests are a crucial part of the company’s quality assurance procedures which will allow the aircraft to be delivered to the FARA program flawlessly.
Sikorsky FARA Chief Engineer Pete Germanowski said with excitement:
“We took an innovative approach with our second CP fuselage The second fuselage has not only increased the efficiency of the build and test of our first CP aircraft, it gives us the option to build it out as a second CP aircraft, providing us with more flexibility and greater risk reduction.”
The helicopter is also equipped with the features of Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA)-based avionics, which will increase its pilot awareness and aid the pilot under hard circumstances. This system also allows the helicopter to operate in multi-environmental settings.
Jay Macklin, Sikorsky Business Development Director, said:
“The FARA mission requires operational flexibility, and RAIDER X provides that operational flexibility the Army needs including speed where it matters, a large multi-functional weapons bay and unprecedented acceleration and deceleration capability.”
“RAIDER X is the most agile, lethal and survivable aircraft, designed for vertical lift dominance against evolving threats of the future.”
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