New high-speed helicopter Sikorsky S-97 Raider

2 otktyabrya 2014 in the hangar Flight Test Center of Sikorsky Aircraft (a part of the corporation United Technologies) in Jupiter (Florida) held a public presentation of the first prototype demonstrator of a new high-speed helicopter Sikorsky S-97 Raider (registration number N971SK).

High-speed helicopter S-97 has a fundamentally new scheme combining coaxial counter-rotating rotors with tail pusher propeller. Earlier this scheme was worked out on an experimental helicopter Sikorsky X2, made its first flight in 2008 and has reached a top speed of 460 km / h. It is expected that the S-97 will have a cruising speed of about 400 km / h (maximum up to 450 km / h) and high dynamic performance in terms of mountains and hot climate. With a maximum takeoff weight of about 5180 kg helicopter S-97, in addition to two crew members will be able to carry in the cockpit six people, and bear pendant arms, including missiles Hellfire, 70 mm NAR and 7, 62 and 12 mm, 7-mm machine guns. Helicopter airframe is made entirely of composite materials.

The first flight of S-97 is expected in December 2014, and then to be built and the second prototype S-97. Helicopter S-97 Sikorsky was originally developed in order to offer to tender US Army program Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) to the promising reconnaissance and attack helicopter reconnaissance helicopters to replace the Bell OH-58D Kiowa. However, in late 2013 AAS program was frozen and its future is unknown, as well as the prospects of S-97. There were reports that the S-97 is interested in United States Special Operations Command (to replace helicopters MD Helicopters MH-6M Little Bird), and unnameable foreign customer.





Video:



Source: BMPD

Tags

See also

New and interesting