First Flight Planned For Late 2014

Final assembly of first Sikorsky S-97 Raider is set to begin this week, putting the company's proposed Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) aircraft on track for a first flight near the end of next year, according to company officials.

The helo is based on the X-2 technology Sikorsky developed in the latter part of the last decade, but scaled up to an aircraft that will weigh more than twice as much as the X-2 demonstrator and carry as many as six troops in full combat gear. Still, Sikorsky says it is confident that the aircraft will maintain the speed and agility helicopters currently do not have.

Army specifications for the AAS include a cruise speed of 220 knots, as well as the capability to complete a 3G turn at speed and hover at 10,000 feet in 95 degree temperatures. "Those are non-negotiables," said Chris Van Buiten, Sikorsky Innovations vice president.

Defense News reports that the Army is looking for a replacement for the Kiowa Warrior in use since the late 1960s, but a lengthy procurement process has not yet produced a helicopter that meets the Army's requirements.

Sikorsky thinks the Raider can meet them ... but concerns about funding for the aircraft under a sequester budget loom large.

The first fuselage for an S-97 Raider arrived at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, FL assembly plant late last week. The fuselage was fabricated by Aurora Flight Sciences in West Virginia. Testing shows the composite airframe can withstand a bird strike at 230 knots and has a very low drag coefficient, according to company officials.

(Image provided by Sikorsky)

FMI: www.sikorsky.com