Somewhat hard on Bell. Just because Sikorsky has decided - for
PR reasons - not to apply any Govt [re]funded IRAD to Raider does not necessarily mean that it is less exploitative of the IRAD process than Bell. You can be assured that the smart folk at Sikorsky will make full use of any funding source available.
The
Defense Tech piece also fails to recognize that Kevin misspoke when he gave the S-97's first flight as being "two and a half years" away at OSH. The stated FF goal is actually late 2014, i.e. 3½ years hence.
I/C