Liquid Measurement Systems (LMS) will participate as a member of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation’s S-97 RAIDER™ helicopter supplier team that is building a next-generation helicopter for evaluation by the U.S. military in 2014. LMS’ advanced, proven fuel measurement technologies will bring industry-leading reliability and accuracy to the RAIDER aircraft.
LMS is among more than 35 other supplier companies nationwide announced as preferred suppliers by Sikorsky, January 12, during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Aviation symposium at National Harbor, near Washington DC.
“We are excited to team with Sikorsky on an aircraft that will redefine the forefront of future rotorcraft design, with LMS’ technology on board,” said George Lamphere, LMS’ President and General Manager. “Our entire team is committed to engineering to a level of excellence that will ensure Sikorsky can assemble and test a high performance, affordable RAIDER™ helicopter platform in time for first flight in 2014.”
Lamphere added, “We make our fuel probes out of graphite composites to be the lightest-weight by far in an industry where every ounce of weight on an aircraft is critical. Our carbon composite fuel probes are the safest, the lightest and most reliable in the industry. Our signal conditioners and fuel quantity indicators are the most accurate. We know that lives depend on a pilot knowing how much fuel is in the tanks. Pilots know they can depend on LMS fuel system components to tell them.”
The RAIDER aircraft program follows Sikorsky’s successful X2 TECHNOLOGY® demonstrator aircraft, which in September 2010 achieved more than 250 knots flight speed, or twice the average cruise speed of a conventional helicopter. The National Aeronautic Association awarded Sikorsky the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy for the achievement, and for its potential as a future rotorcraft technology.
Sikorsky and its team suppliers are self-funding the design and manufacture of two S-97 RAIDER prototype aircraft for flight evaluation by the U.S. military in 2014. The program is currently in the advanced design stage.
The X2™ design is scalable, opening up a variety of potential mission uses including combat search and rescue, armed aerial scout, medical evacuation, special operations, VIP and offshore oil transport.
For more information about the S-97 RAIDER program, please visit www.sikorsky.com.
About Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), is based in Stratford, Conn., and is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
For more information about the S-97 RAIDER™ program, please visit www.sikorsky.com.