Sikorsky, arm of Lockheed Martin, has revealed two images of the prototype Raider X, its competitor for the FARA (Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft) program of the US Army.
The new aircraft is being built at Sikorsky's plant in West Palm Beach, Florida. Sikorsky says that manufacturing of the Raider X is 90% complete and that it already has 98% of the parts in hand to finalize the prototype.
In images released by the company on its social networks, it is possible to see the Raider X helicopter armed with what appears to be a .19 caliber GAU-50 BMG rotary machine gun, or a modified 197mm M20 cannon. The aircraft is also carrying four missiles visually similar to the AGM-114 Hellfire, mounted in retractable wings/doors.
“Our acceptance test procedures are more than 50% complete,” said Jay Macklin, director of business development for Sikorsky Army Programs and Innovations.
Macklin also claims that Sikorsky is working alongside the Army on the process of building the new helicopter. “They are extremely involved in all aspects of this and have been great teammates.”
The Raider X is a concept for a fast, agile, composite coaxial rotor helicopter. The aircraft is based on the S-97 Raider. The new helicopter was designed for the US Army's FARA program, which aims to find a replacement for the retired OH-58D Kiowa.
The Sikorsky prototype will compete for the Army contract against the Bell 360 Invictus, which is also in an advanced manufacturing stage. The two models should fly from 2023.
Through the US Army's FARA program, Raider X is the cutting edge platform in the military organization's revolutionary approach to the rapid development and delivery of revolutionary technology and combat capabilities, equipped for the most demanding and contested environments.
