Making Lemonade the Lockheed Martin Way

A delay precluding delivery of a new engine for Sikorsky’s Raider X prototype helicopter—the company’s candidate for the Army’s Future Assault Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program—will not impact Sikorsky’s design process for the prototype it will offer Army brass, company executives said.

During a June media event, Sikorsky senior engineer Pete Germanowski stated the delay afforded additional time to complete Raider X’s design and reduce risk.

“From an engineering perspective, the real benefit of that delay is that it better aligns the [preliminary design review] with the [competitive prototype] flight test activity,” Germanowski said. “About the time we get to PDR, we’ll be a large percentage of the way through the CP flight test program as well, so you get that test-based validation of your results.”

The delay—according to a U.S. Army source—was caused by COVID-19-related supply chain issues.

The Sikorsky Raider X is a compound helicopter concept featuring two coaxial rotors and a single pusher-propeller.

The main rotors feature hingeless hubs and stiff blades which improve both low-speed handling and efficiency during hover. At high speeds, the close spacing of the hubs reduces drag.

The drag reduction is attributable to the stiff blades engendering low lift (diminished drag) along the retreating 180° of the rotor-disk. The pusher-propeller—by relieving the main rotors of propulsion function—further reduces drag.

The coaxial rotors’ ability to tilt together or independently dramatically improves the Raider X’s maneuverability over that of its progenitors. Transverse, active elevons mounted forward of the variable-pitch, pusher-propeller further enhance agility.

At low speed the Raider X yaws by means of differential torque between the upper and lower rotors. At high speed, yaw is controlled by twin, P-38-style rudders.

The engine by which the Raider X’s wondrous rotor and forward-thrust systems will be powered is expected by November.

When asked if the delay raised concerns about the Army’s dedication to the program, Jay Macklin, director of future vertical lift at Sikorsky, said the company isn’t worried.

Macklin pointed out the increase in the [Army’s] funding request for the FARA program and its sister helicopter program: future long-range assault aircraft. “Army aviation has been very clear about the importance, the capability gap that FARA is filling in a reconnaissance role,” he asserted.

FMI: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/capabilities/sikorsky.html