Sikorsky Strategy Fits Budget Realities | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

Mon, Nov 28, 2011

Sikorsky Strategy Fits Budget Realities

Company's Self-Funded S-97 May Be Timed Just Right

With news this week that the deficit supercommittee will end in deadlock, triggering automatic cuts in defense spending, Sikorsky's decision to spend its own money to develop the X2 and its military helicopter extensions is looking downright prescient. The company appears to be betting that future helicopter procurement will be bracketed by tight budgets and a need for speed.

Earlier this year Sikorsky tested its X2 Technology Demonstrator, which uses rigid coaxial rotors and a pusher propeller, at speeds up to 250 knots, or 287 MPH. The machine was then retired and presented as a static display at Oshkosh. This month, a mockup of the first proposed military derivative, the S-97 Raider, (pictured in manufacturer photo,) was shown to US Army officials at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is home to Army Special Ops Aviation.

The Fay Observer reports that when the actual, flying prototypes are ready, they will tour installations including Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Hood in Texas to let military pilots fly the machines and see the difference speed makes. The X2's 250 knots is a whopping 47 percent faster than a Black Hawk. The S-97 Raider is proposed as a light tactical helicopter with multi-role applications, able to carry six assault soldiers, an internal fuel tank, a .50-caliber machine gun or rockets.

In addition to allowing higher speeds, Sikorsky says the suite of technologies demonstrated on the X2 will also make the S-97 quieter, more maneuverable, better in high-and-hot missions common in places such as Afghanistan, and do it all with less workload for single-pilot use.

Sikorsky spokesman Mike Mudd tells the Observer that in 2004, just about the time the Pentagon was canceling Sikorsky's contract to develop the Comanche helicopter for delays and budget overruns, the company looked at long-term strategy.

Mudd recalls, "We decided about eight years ago how do we remain competitive in the future, 30 or 40 years? We want to do everything that the helicopter provides us, but we think the customer is going to desire speed.

"We put a small team of engineers, about 20 to 30 of them (on the project) and said, 'Go figure this problem out. Keep a helicopter, but add the higher speed to it.'

"We want to make sure one guy can fly it and flying is secondary and running a mission is primary."

FMI: www.sikorsky.com/StaticFiles/Sikorsky/Assets/Attachments/NEWSLETTER/military/Frontlines_Q4_2010_issue22.pdf

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.07.24): Hazardous Weather Information

Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.07.24)

Aero Linx: The T-6 Racing Association The T-6 Racing Association is all about T-6‘s and racing. Our mission is to bring great racing to our fans in Reno and other venues wher>[...]

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

Also: Electra Aero, AMO-CBP v Smugglers, Naval King Airs, Boeing Deal To the surprise of everyone involved, Waco Kitchen shut down both airport operations with little warning and h>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC