The S-97 Raider is a light tactical helicopter being developed by Sikorsky to demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s X2 Technology. The technology claims to offer safer high-speed flights with improved efficiency and safety.

The S-97 Raider will be offered to the US Armed Forces for flight testing and evaluation for future combat missions. The helicopter is suitable for assault and armed reconnaissance missions. The technology is, however, scalable to a range of other missions such as close-air support, combat search and rescue and special operations. It can fly at speeds of more than 220kt at 10,000ft altitude.

X2 Technology™

Sikorsky

The X2 technology demonstrator is a new coaxial rotor design (counter-rotating rotors) that aims to retain good hover performance as well as cruise speeds up to 460 km/h (250 kts). X2 Technology aircraft will hover, land vertically, maneuver at low speeds, and transition seamlessly from hover to forward flight like a helicopter. In a high speed configuration, one or more ‘pusher props’ are part of an integrated auxiliary propulsion system to enable high speed with no need to physically reconfigure the aircraft in flight.

Sikorsky

Technologies to be used in the X2 design include:

new rotor blade designs with high lift-to-drag ratio
fly-by-wire system with advanced flight control laws
transmissions with greater horsepower to weight performance and the ability to seamlessly transfer power from the main rotor to the aft propulsor
active vibration control.

Contributing to the flight test effort are:

Aero Composites: six-blade pusher propeller
Chelton Flight Systems : cockpit displays
Eagle Aviation Technologies: rotor blade manufacture
Hamilton Sundstrand
Honeywell supplies the fly-by-wire control system
LHTEC with an T800-801 engine
Moog, providing the active vibration control

According to Sikorsky, the X2 technology is highly scalable from UAVs to heavy lifters. Examples mentioned in company leafleats in mid 2005 were:

UAV: 250 kts cruise to station, 5 hour plus endurance at 110 miles radius, full envelope weapons delivery
- high speed attack helicopter
- commercial intermediate transport
- heavy lift crane helicopter with 25 ton external load
- high-speed joint heavy lift transport with 25 ton internal load

General
Crew (Besatzung): 2

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x LHTEC T800 turboshaft, driving both the coaxial rotor and the six-bladed pusher propeller
Power (Leistung): 1000 – 1250 kW (1300 – 1680 shp)

Weights (Massen)
Take-off weight (Startmasse): about 3600 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 460 km/h (250 kts)
Range (Reichweite): 1300 km

X2 specification flug-revue.rotor.com

Designed with a lower turning radius and acoustic noise signature, the S-97 is expected to be a game-changer in the light military helicopters segment. The first of two S-97 prototypes was unveiled in October 2014, with its maiden flight scheduled for the end of 2014.

Details of the S-97 Raider development programme

Sikorsky initiated the development of S-97 Raider in 2010 as an advancement of the applications of X2 Technology in next-generation rotor-wing technologies. The company will initially produce two S-97 Raider prototypes and send them to the US Armed Forces for testing and evaluation.

Sikorsky’s aim is to offer the X2-based aircraft for the Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) programme of the US Army. The AAS programme involves the procurement of armed reconnaissance aircraft for the US Army.

The first prototype of the S-97 Raider entered final assembly in September 2013 and was powered for first time in June 2014. The company has selected 35 suppliers for the prototype development, with the majority of them being based in the US. It will invest 75% of the project cost, while the suppliers will invest the remaining total.

Lockheed Martin Unveils Raider X FARA Design https://t.co/uBs5TbFtIe pic.twitter.com/zWn6pvQSCo

— nawaponrath (@nawapon10) October 15, 2019

Companies / contractors involved with the S-97 development

A number of the companies that Sikorsky has teamed-up for the development of the S-97 Raider include Rotating Composite Technologies (RCT), HEXCEL and Eagle Aviation Technologies for the blades; Fischer + Entwicklungen, Aurora, PPG Industries and others for the structure; and Fatigue Technology (FTI), Parker Aerospace, and others for rotors and transmission.

The S-97 Raider development is also being sponsored by a number of companies including GE, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Honeywell, Garmin, Parker Aerospace, and Hamilton Sundstrand.

PPG Aerospace was selected in June 2012 to supply the plastic transparencies for the S-97 Raider prototypes. As part of the supply agreement, PPG will develop and produce coated windshields for the pilot and co-pilot, side windows of the cockpit, as well as the lower observation and fuselage windows.

Design features of the S-97 Raider

lockheedmartin.com

The S-97 Raider armed scout helicopter is 37ft long and 16ft wide. It is fitted with a 34ft diameter rotor and a 7ft diameter propeller in the rear.

LockheedMartinVideos

The fuselage of the helicopter will be built of composite materials. The cabin will have seating for a troop of six. The cockpit can accommodate two pilots in a side-by-side seating arrangement.

LockheedMartinVideos

The helicopter will be fitted with twin rigid co-axial counter-rotating main rotors. An auxiliary internal fuel tank will be provided aft of the cockpit for extended mission support and operational flexibility. The helicopter features a retractable landing gear and fly-by-wire flight controls.

Retractable landing gear – LockheedMartinVideos

Additional design features of the S-97 include active vibration control, hub drag reduction, integrated thermal management system and split torque transmission.

Twin rigid co-axial counter-rotating main rotors

ERIC ADAMS – cropped

Armaments / weapons of the light tactical helicopter

The S-97 Raider will carry armament payloads including Hellfire missiles, 2.75in rockets, a .50 cal gun and a 7.62mm gun. It can also carry additional ammunition for extended missions. The armament space is located aft of the cockpit – towards the tail of the aircraft.

Hellfire missiles

Primary Function: Air-to-surface and surface-to-surface point target/anti-armor missile
Prime Contractor: Hellfire Systems, LLC – A Boeing – Lockheed Martin Joint Venture
Propulsion: ATK (now Orbital ATK) solid propellant rocket motor (IM HELLFIRE Propulsion System);
AGM-114A: ATK M120E3; AGM-114B: ATK M120E4; AGM-114L: ATK M120E4
Length: 5.33 ft (1.62 m); AGM-114L: 5.77 ft (1.76 m)
Diameter: 7 in (17.8 cm)
Wingspan: 28 in (0.71 m)
Weight: 98 to 109 lbs (44.5 to 49.4 kg); AGM-114R: 109 lbs (49.4 kg)
Speed: Subsonic
Range: AGM-114 K/L/M/N: 4.97 miles (8,000 m)
AGM-114R fired at 3,000 ft (914 m):
4.97 miles (8,000 m) – LOAL, high trajectory
4.41 miles (7,100 m) – LOAL, low/direct trajectory
Guidance: Semi-Active Laser (SAL) seeker; AGM-114L: Millimeter wave (MMW) radar seeker
Warhead: AGM-114 A/C/F/K/K-2/L/P/P+: Shaped charge warhead
AGM-114F-A/K-2A/P-2A: Shaped charge warhead with frag sleeve
AGM-114M/N: Blast fragmentation warhead (AGM-114N is a thermobaric version with metal augmentation charge)
AGM-114R: Multi-purpose Integrated Blast Frag Sleeve (IBFS) warhead

Source fi-aeroweb.com

2.75-inch/70mm DAGR missile

The 2.75-inch/70mm DAGR missile is a precision-strike, multi-role, multi-platform munition that effectively neutralizes lightly-armored and high-value targets close to civilian assets or friendly forces. DAGR offers strike capability with the reliability of a HELLFIRE II missile while further limiting collateral damage.

The DAGR system puts HELLFIRE II missile and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile technology in a 2.75-inch guidance section that integrates seamlessly with legacy Hydra-70 rockets. Like HELLFIRE, DAGR offers lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) and lock-on-before-launch (LOBL) capability, target handoff, enhanced built-in testing on the rail, and laser coding from the cockpit. The result is a laser-guided missile that offers capabilities beyond those of a simple guided rocket.

The DAGR rail-mounted canister (RMC) mounts to HELLFIRE-compatible digital and analog launchers (e.g., M299/M310 and M272). The RMC readily integrates with all HELLFIRE platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles and Apache, Kiowa, Little Bird, Cobra, and Tiger helicopters.

Plug-and-play HELLFIRE II compatibility allows aircrews to mix loadouts between HELLFIRE and DAGR missiles on the same launcher, providing the flexibility to meet any challenge on an ever-changing battlefield. When increased loadout or reduced weight is a must, DAGR delivers. Source lockheedmartin.com

Specifications
Diameter: 2.75 in (70 mm)
Length: 75 in (1.9 m)
Wingspan: 8.75 in (222 mm)
Weight: 35.0 lb (15.8 kg)
Guidance: Semi-active laser homing (SALH).
Range from Sea Level: Min: 1.5 km Max: 5 km
Range from 20,000 feet: 12 km.
Motor: Existing Hydra 70 motors.
Warhead: M151 warhead with M423 fuze

Source plus.google.com

FN HERSTAL Belgium manufactured machine gun pod

fnherstal.com

Specially-Designed Machine GunThe .50 cal FN^® M3P machine gun has been especifically designed by FN Herstal for airborne applications.

High Hit Probability

A high rate of fire guarantees short time on target (1,025 +/- 75 RPM, per pod, adjustable)

Improved Accuracy and SafetyThe FN^® M3P machine gun features a Flash Hider and is installed on a soft mount that absorbs most recoil forces for increased accuracy.

Accurate suppressive and defensive fire against troops up to 3,000m

Suppressive fire against light armored vehicles up to 1,000m (.50 cal APEI round)

Ignition of fuel tanks and containers up to 2,500m (.50 cal APEI round)

Aerial threat suppression (.50 cal APEI round)

Source fnherstal.com

The helicopter can be armed with external weapons and will be equipped with a variety of sensors to support reconnaissance and light attack missions.

Engine / propulsion

lockheedmartin.com

The S-97 Raider will be powered by a single engine. The pusher type clutched propeller will enable the helicopter to fly at speeds up to 220kt. The dash speed will be more than 240kt, which is almost double that of a conventional helicopter. An auxiliary power unit will also be provided to start the engine.

lockheedmartin.com

General Electric YT706

The YT706-700 is a growth version of GE Aviation’s commercial CT7-8 turboshaft and produces 2,600shp (1,940kW) compared with 2,000shp for the T700-701D that powers the standard UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter.

GE won a competition in 2005 to supply 120 engines to power special-forces MH-60Ms, which need increased hot-and-high capability, says programme manager John Martin. Deliveries will begin next year.

Compared with the -701D, the YT706 has a 25% larger compressor, full-authority digital engine control and improved turbine cooling and materials. Development included 40h flying in an MH-60M test aircraft.

Changes from the commercial CT7-8A include revised “fail fixed” controls that ensure the engine maintains power if both FADEC channels fail. The CT7-8 shuts down if there is a dual failure, says Martin.

With the commercial designation CT7-8B5, the engine belongs to the family powering the Sikorsky S-92 (-8A) and Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland VH-71 (-8E). The -8F5 has been selected to power Spain’s NH Industries NH90s, and the 3,000shp -8C is under development to power later VH-71s. Also under development is a FADEC-equipped T700-701E to power the upgraded, fly-by-wire version of the UH-60M. Source flightglobal.com

ERIC ADAMS

Comparison

	CT7-2	CT7-6/6A	CT7-8	CT7-9
PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Compressor Stages	6	6	6	6
Low-Pressure Turbine / High-Pressure Turbine	2/2	2/2	2/2	2/2
Nominal Diameter (Inches)	15.6	15.6	26	29
Length (Inches)	46	47	48.8	96
POWER SPECIFICATIONS
Take off rating at Sea Level	1,625	2,000	2,634	1,870-1,950
SFC at take-off rating	0.474	0.454	0.452	0.455