The Indian Navy may stand
a good chance of boosting its helicopter fleets with Sikorsky Aircraft
Corporation (SAC) having received a request for information (RFIs) from
it for buying and developing 123 multi-role helicopters. Sikorsky is
also working on a futuristic helicopter, the technology demonstrator of
which -- called X-2 -- has recorded 250 knots in airspeed as against
160-180 knots recorded among conventional helicopters. The company has
indicated that India would stand in good stead doing business with it to
gain the latest in helicopter technology enhancement in future.
Air
Marshal (retd) AVM Walia, regional executive (India & South Asia
region), SAC,said on Thursday at the second day of Aero India 2013 that
the Indian Navy was looking for 123 multi-role helicopters. It is
specially looking for one of two varieties of helicopters -- the MH-60R
or the MH-60H. "The RFI has been responded to and we are now waiting for
a request for proposal so that we can take the matter forward," he
said.
SAC has also received RFIs from the Indian CoastGuard for
14 shore-based helicopters and 16 ship-borne ones for which the company
is waiting for RFPs.
But while Walia and SAC president, Mick
Maurer, provided details about doing business with Indian defence and
civilian companies, what could not be missed was their presentation made
on the X-2 technology helicopter,the future of helicopter which flies
with double tilt rotors for enhanced lift.
Having achieved its
goal of flying the X2 Technology demonstrator helicopter at more than
250 knots (287 mph), Sikorsky will design, build and fly two more X2
Technology aircraft, and offer one of the aircraft to the US military
for flight test and evaluation. Both prototypes will become the first of
an all-new light tactical helicopter category — the Sikorsky S-97 — and
will carry the designation “S-97 Raider” helicopter.
SAC is
developing two prototypes for the US military, which is scheduled to
carry out the first test flight of the Sikorsky S-97 in late 2014.
The
Sikorsky X-2 helicopter, which features increased speed with
maneuverability and agility, incorporates several new technologies and
has successfully demonstrated them in a flight environment. These
technologies include an integrated fly-by-wire system that allows the
engine/rotor/propulsor system to operate efficiently, with full control
of rotor rpm (rotations per minute) throughout the flight high
lift-to-drag rigid blades, low drag hub fairings, and active vibration
control at such high speeds.
In addition, the aircraft was used
as a 'flying wind tunnel' to determine the main rotor to propulsor
aerodynamic interaction, shaft angle optimization for performance, and
blade tip clearance for a range of maneuvers. This will allow
optimization of the X2 Technology suite for future products.
SAC's
website says about this future of helicopters: "Historically, vertical
flight has required a compromise between hover performance and forward
speed...With X2 Technology, Sikorsky is focused on providing increased
speed over conventional rotorcraft designs without compromising the
essential attributes that make helicopters valuable."
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com
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