Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider prototype.
AURORA, Colorado—The cancellation of the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Sikorsky’s loss on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) does not spell the end of its coaxial, X-2 technology, as the company is continuing to pitch it for international customers.
The dual rotor design was the key feature for the company’s Raider X and SB-1 Defiant proposals, and Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo says there is still international interest in it.
Sikorsky will soon submit a proposal for NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft (NRGC) program based on the X-2 technology, Lemmo told reporters April 25 on the sidelines of the Army Aviation Association of America summit here. Sikorsky’s parent Lockheed Martin already has a contract to study open architecture plans for NATO.
The NRGC program, started in 2020, is a multinational project led by France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK to field a new fleet of medium multirole helicopters. In February, the organization called on industry to develop concepts for the program with the goal of fielding by 2040. A request for proposals calls for a common airframe for land-based and naval operations, with a minimum cruise speed of 180 kt. (207.1 mph) or more and a maximum takeoff weight of between 10-17 metric tons.
Lemmo says Sikorsky is also in discussions with Italy for a contract for the second phase of a study for a future, high-speed helicopter requirement.
Beyond NATO and Italy, Lemmo says there are other countries that are involved in early discussions. Meanwhile, the company will continue flying its S-97 Raider for engineering tests and demonstrations.
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