S-97 Raider

Service And Conflict Use

1. Oct 2, 2014

   Unveiled to the public

   Lockheed Martin unveiled the first S-97 Raider prototype and described it as an armed aerial scout or light assault helicopter concept.

   Sources: Sikorsky Unveils S-97 RAIDER Helicopter | Lockheed Martin

2. May 22, 2015

   First flight

   The S-97 Raider completed its first flight at Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach.

   Sources: Sikorsky S-97 RAIDER Helicopter Achieves Successful First Flight | Lockheed Martin

3. Oct 4, 2018

   Exceeds 200 knots

   Lockheed Martin said the Raider had exceeded 200 knots during flight testing while the company prepared its FARA proposal.

   Sources: Sikorsky S-97 Raider Exceeds 200 Knots as Company Prepares Proposal for U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft | Lockheed Martin

4. Apr 15, 2021

   Redstone demonstrations

   Army aviators observed two flight demonstrations at Redstone Arsenal that highlighted low-speed maneuverability and high-speed capability.

   Sources: RAIDER Flies at Redstone | Lockheed Martin

S-97 Raider Images

Related Weapon Systems

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Aircraft & UAVsSoko GazelleLight attack helicopter / armed helicopterThe Soko Gazelle is the Yugoslav license-built version of the Aérospatiale Gazelle light helicopter, produced by SOKO and used in utility, scout, and armed roles. Open sources describe the family as a five-seat light helicopter, and Yugoslav service variants were adapted to carry the 9M14 Malyutka anti-tank missile.

Aircraft & UAVsAH-60L ArpiaArmed utility / attack helicopterThe AH-60L Arpia is Colombia's locally developed armed Black Hawk family, converting UH-60L and related Black Hawk airframes into attack and escort helicopters with stub wings, machine-gun pods, rocket launchers, and later Spike missiles. Colombian Air Force reporting places the first Arpia mission in January 1996 and describes the program as evolving through Arpia I-IV to give the service a fast, highly maneuverable fire-support platform.

Aircraft & UAVsBlack Hawk helicopterMedium-lift military utility helicopter familyThe Black Hawk is Sikorsky's twin-engine medium-lift military utility helicopter family, developed from the U.S. Army's 1972 UTTAS requirement and fielded from 1978-79. The family includes the U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue variant, which added rescue-focused mission equipment, aerial refueling, and night and all-weather systems for personnel recovery and medevac work.

Aircraft & UAVsAH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopterMarine attack helicopterThe Bell AH-1W Super Cobra is a twin-engine U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopter developed from the AH-1T Cobra. NAVAIR described it as the Corps' close air support workhorse and said its weapons fit included Hellfire, Sidearm, Sidewinder, 2.75-inch rockets, and a 20-mm gun; the Marine Corps retired the type in 2020 after fielding it from 1985.

Aircraft & UAVsAH-1Z Viper attack helicopterAttack helicopterThe Bell AH-1Z Viper is a two-seat U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopter developed for the H-1 upgrade program. Bell describes it as a marinized attack-and-reconnaissance platform with a four-bladed composite rotor, 200 KIAS top speed, 310 nm range, and six weapon stations, while official Navy reporting says the Marine Corps declared AGM-179A JAGM initial operational capability on the AH-1Z and that AH-1Z pilots tested the missile in 2021.

Sources