Sikorsky Raider X - FARA contender
I still gently suggest that the dark olive green rotor hub/masts in the Raider-X image are 3D printed plastic simulated parts. Real rotor masts would have bushings, inserts, mast bending instrumentation wiring, etc. and that would all not be painted the exact same color of gloss olive green. I think that’s a transmission simulator with integrated rotor hubs in that image.
Sikorsky has never had much success in building Attack Helicopters but Bell. has not had any success with building large transport helicopters.
Bell did do well by getting into the Tiltrotor technology as far as its military application.
Speaking of which....it has gone awfully quiet in my neighborhood of late....some USMC CH-53's and some Huey's and Cobra's flying around....but no Osprey aircraft.
Must be the MEU. has trained up and departed and the next workup cycle will begin before long.
Wednesday and Sunday nights seem to be the busiest days of the week.
Bell did do well by getting into the Tiltrotor technology as far as its military application.
Speaking of which....it has gone awfully quiet in my neighborhood of late....some USMC CH-53's and some Huey's and Cobra's flying around....but no Osprey aircraft.
Must be the MEU. has trained up and departed and the next workup cycle will begin before long.
Wednesday and Sunday nights seem to be the busiest days of the week.
Thread Starter
Raider X for the Indo_Pacific region
At Quad-A this week in Nashville, Sikorsky is heavily marketing the Raider-X to fit into the Indo-Pacific region
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us...u2LU8FR4pvmNvU
Cheers
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us...u2LU8FR4pvmNvU
Cheers
At Quad-A this week in Nashville, Sikorsky is heavily marketing the Raider-X to fit into the Indo-Pacific region
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us...u2LU8FR4pvmNvU
Cheers
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us...u2LU8FR4pvmNvU
Cheers
Congress has Sights on FARA
While she hasn’t been booked, they are conducting auditions of +size singers.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress...on-helicopter/
https://www.defensenews.com/congress...on-helicopter/
"US Army Should Rethink its Vertical Lift Modernization Program"
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/07/1"Aviation leaders are questioning the feasibility of FARA’s current design, with its single-engine and small rotor size. Moreover, the helicopter’s heavy structure restricts the addition of necessary weapon or sensor systems, which can further contribute to its limitations." Comment: Raider X is heavy and underpowered, can't support additions.
"Because of these issues, there are discussions about enhancing FARA’s lift capacity by increasing the rotor diameter and incorporating a supplemental power unit. But changing the requirements and exploring a dual-engine option suddenly makes FARA look like the highly capable and proven Apache attack helicopter."
Raider X is an underpowered overweight loser. This is just an attempt by the Army to fund an all new demonstrator to replace Raider X. It would be even bigger and heavier. Just pull the plug on Sikorsky already, stop wasting taxpayer money.
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/07/1"Aviation leaders are questioning the feasibility of FARA’s current design, with its single-engine and small rotor size. Moreover, the helicopter’s heavy structure restricts the addition of necessary weapon or sensor systems, which can further contribute to its limitations." Comment: Raider X is heavy and underpowered, can't support additions.
"Because of these issues, there are discussions about enhancing FARA’s lift capacity by increasing the rotor diameter and incorporating a supplemental power unit. But changing the requirements and exploring a dual-engine option suddenly makes FARA look like the highly capable and proven Apache attack helicopter."
Raider X is an underpowered overweight loser. This is just an attempt by the Army to fund an all new demonstrator to replace Raider X. It would be even bigger and heavier. Just pull the plug on Sikorsky already, stop wasting taxpayer money.
Bell was smart enough to add a second smaller engine. Bell is good to go, with a lighter weight design and a second engine. The Sikorsky X2 design needs a lot more hp at high speeds, because of the massive rotor hub drag, which is an unavoidable consequence of x2 technology.
From the The Defence Post article:
Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said, “Our transformational RAIDER X will deliver broad benefits to the Army including the lowest schedule risk and greatest technical maturity of the FARA competitors.”
They must have legalized pot in Hartford CT, because it is the only way Paul Lemmo could imagine that the Raider X is lower risk and higher maturity than the Bell Invictus 360.
Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said, “Our transformational RAIDER X will deliver broad benefits to the Army including the lowest schedule risk and greatest technical maturity of the FARA competitors.”
They must have legalized pot in Hartford CT, because it is the only way Paul Lemmo could imagine that the Raider X is lower risk and higher maturity than the Bell Invictus 360.
From the The Defence Post article:
Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said, “Our transformational RAIDER X will deliver broad benefits to the Army including the lowest schedule risk and greatest technical maturity of the FARA competitors.”
They must have legalized pot in Hartford CT, because it is the only way Paul Lemmo could imagine that the Raider X is lower risk and higher maturity than the Bell Invictus 360.
Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said, “Our transformational RAIDER X will deliver broad benefits to the Army including the lowest schedule risk and greatest technical maturity of the FARA competitors.”
They must have legalized pot in Hartford CT, because it is the only way Paul Lemmo could imagine that the Raider X is lower risk and higher maturity than the Bell Invictus 360.
The Analysis of Alternatives, currently in progress, will either say to add a second T-901 engine and grow the aircraft or kill the program and upgrade the Apache. Easy money and heavy lobbying is on the latter, but like the H-60, you can only push a 50 year old design so far... unless we're talking the B-52, evidently.
The Analysis of Alternatives, currently in progress, will either say to add a second T-901 engine and grow the aircraft or kill the program and upgrade the Apache. Easy money and heavy lobbying is on the latter, but like the H-60, you can only push a 50 year old design so far... unless we're talking the B-52, evidently.
Administrator
The F in FARA means Future. 
I would be interested to see the complete argument that demonstrates how AH-64E is the Future.
I would be interested to see the complete argument that demonstrates how AH-64E is the Future.
Spline....there are several "Over 50 Years Old" designs still flying in front lines operational units....OH-6 Little Birds, CH-47's, CH-53's, UH-1's, Cobra's, C-130's, C-5's, C-135's, U-2's.....it is just a matter of matching needs, technology, and funding (and lots and lots of politics, lobbying, and handshakes, nods and winks).
I see it similar in a lot of ways as in Limit Theory in math.....everything has a "limit" to what it can be made to do.....the question is how close to the limit does one go before chucking it in and going clean paper design.
That is where the balancing of cost/benefit has to be considered as money probably is the real limiting factor in these days of stressed federal budgets and knowing future budgets are going to be even more stressed.
At some point government runs out of money and cuts have to be made and priorities realigned.....then enters the serious politics and lobbying.
I see it similar in a lot of ways as in Limit Theory in math.....everything has a "limit" to what it can be made to do.....the question is how close to the limit does one go before chucking it in and going clean paper design.
That is where the balancing of cost/benefit has to be considered as money probably is the real limiting factor in these days of stressed federal budgets and knowing future budgets are going to be even more stressed.
At some point government runs out of money and cuts have to be made and priorities realigned.....then enters the serious politics and lobbying.
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But without those big Government contracts, what is the future for some of these manufacturers? Orders means jobs means votes.
