The S-97 Raider helicopter of Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary has surpassed a speed record of 200 knots during a recent flight test in preparation for proposal to the U.S. Army.
Lockheed said Thursday Sikorsky intends for the helicopter to become part of the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program aiming to further implement future vertical lift technology in the service branch’s fleet.
The Raider leverages Sikorsky’s X2 Technology that is geared to double the aircraft’s speed as compared with standard helicopters, and also to allow for low-speed handling.
The light tactical prototype helicopter also features new technologies that make up its vehicle management systems, fly-by-wire flight controls and systems integration.