Newly emerged pictures increase the likelihood that China has constructed one other compound helicopter demonstrator, following the S-97 Raider-like plane seen in 2025, this time bearing a resemblance to the bigger SB>1 Defiant.
Months after the primary pictures emerged on-line, the Chinese language clone of the Sikorsky X2 know-how appeared once more. Nevertheless, this time the brand new pictures increase the likelihood that China might need constructed a second demonstrator, just like the SB>1 Defiant.
It’s unclear when and the place this video was captured. The primary pictures, which we lined in a earlier report right here at The Aviationist, emerged in August 2025 however have been reportedly captured in April 2025 and initially solely printed on the Chinese language social media Weibo. On that event, the plane was an virtually precise clone of the Sikorsky S-97 Raider, as we famous in our report.
The Changhe coaxial testbed was seen once more
(by way of @欧阳振我86468 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/ODTPHAAYOx
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) February 5, 2026
In comparison with the primary sighting, the helicopter might need now been outfitted with an aerodynamic fairing over the rotor hub. Nevertheless, the helicopter additionally seems to be longer than within the earlier pictures, opening to the potential of both modifications to the airframe seen final 12 months or perhaps a new, bigger variant being constructed.
This is able to be considerably just like Sikorsky’s program, which noticed a bigger variant of the identical plane, the SB>1 Defiant, being developed based mostly upon the identical know-how. The helicopter within the the brand new pictures seems visibly completely different, with a slender, longer airframe and presumably a brand new powerplant, because the lateral engine’s outlet doesn’t seem like seen.
The standard of the video and the gap at which it was captured don’t permit to discern helpful particulars to additional analyze the design.
China’s coaxial compound helicopter.
The inflexible coaxial rotors with push propellers offers it a modern profile, excellent for prime pace pressured entry into enemy airspace.
With a pace and vary benefit in comparison with conventional helicopters, it’s excellent for particular forces insertion… pic.twitter.com/g5Iuo95JeX
— Zhao DaShuai 东北进修🇨🇳 (@zhao_dashuai) February 6, 2026
Chinese language Compound Helicopter
In comparison with a normal helicopter, this compound helicopter options two coaxial counter-rotating predominant rotors and a prop rotor within the tail. The structure of the plane and its general form instantly catch the attention for his or her resemblance to the Sikorsky S-97 Raider demonstrator, based mostly on the corporate’s X2 know-how.
The helicopter has a slender form optimized for greater pace, with two four-bladed counter-rotating coaxial predominant rotors and the proprotor within the rear. The proprotor is put in behind giant tail planes and a decrease tail fin which additionally serves as mounting level for the tail wheel.
And the surprises from China don’t cease – it appears as if one at present desires to burn off true fireworks of reports – as a result of right this moment this coaxial helicopter (most likely a take a look at service) was proven for the primary time.
(Picture by way of @Captain小潇 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/UvLOCwuk4y
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) August 21, 2025
In comparison with the S-97 Raider, the horizontal tailplane sits decrease than the axis of the prop rotor, whereas the vertical fins lengthen up, on the alternative facet. The principle touchdown gear seems to retract with a swiveling mechanism behind the cockpit, one other facet which has similarities to the Raider.
The helicopter seems to have a protrusion on the appropriate facet, beginning in coincidence of the primary rotors’ mast and ending the place the engine outlet is positioned. It’s unclear if there may be additionally a cabin within the space behind the primary touchdown gear and beneath the primary rotors, though the standard of the pictures emerged final 12 months didn’t permit to discern many particulars.
Chinese language army aviation observers famous that this plane may very well be a small-medium measurement know-how demonstrator for subsequent technology configurations, considerably just like the U.S. Future Vertical Raise (FVL) program. It’s believed that China is likely to be evaluating the state of helicopter applied sciences for a future software, because the compound helicopter was not the one one to emerge.
In reality, a tiltrotor has additionally been unveiled, reported to be constructed by Hafei Aviation Business, a subsidiary of Harbin Plane Business Group (HAIG). Then again, the design of this S-97 clone is attributed to Changhe Plane Business Group (CAIG), a subsidiary of AVIC, which reportedly began engaged on the venture in 2023.
As famous in lots of China’s army packages, there are a number of parallels with U.S. developments, with some examples being the J-35 fighters, with variant for each the air drive and navy, and the EMALS catapults. Given the curiosity that the U.S. confirmed within the new helicopter applied sciences, China might need determined to check related applied sciences to judge which of them are extra suited to its army doctrine and wishes.
Wanting on the predominant benefits, a tiltrotor and a compound helicopter would lengthen the vary and the pace of China’s helicopter fleet. In a army software, it could imply with the ability to transfer troops or supplies farther and sooner, amongst all issues.
The compound helicopter would additionally exploit the flexibility to sharply speed up and decelerate through the use of the prop rotor. On the identical time, this design can profit of a better maneuverability in comparison with a tiltrotor.
These capabilities, taken collectively, would permit the plane to rapidly arrive on the battlefield, decrease the publicity to threats and use some “methods up the sleeve” to flee enemy fireplace.
The S-97 Raider
Nearly precisely a 12 months in the past, The Aviationist was among the many shops who have been invited to the Sikorsky Growth Flight Middle to attend an indication of the X2 know-how and get an up-close have a look at the S-97 Raider. Equally to the Chinese language helicopter, this compound helicopter has two coaxial counter-rotating predominant rotors and a prop rotor within the tail.
This plane is the results of 20 years of improvement, began in 2005 with the X2 demonstrator, and exploited the Advancing Blade Idea that Sikorsky developed within the Seventies. Nevertheless, on the time there have been nonetheless some technical challenges to resolve, and that took a long time.
Sikorsky created the Advancing Blade Idea with the purpose of considerably growing helicopter flight pace. The idea is predicated on the rotor’s skill to develop elevate on the blade that advances within the path of flight, relieving of this responsibility the retreating blade that goes in the other way.
Utilizing counter-rotating, inflexible rotors with restricted bending within the vertical path, this design delayed the drag improve brought on by the blades’ tip Mach quantity results, thus enabling greater speeds. Know-how developed via the years and, a long time later, developments similar to composites rotor blades and fly by wire management system, along with a pusher propeller added for effectivity, solved a number of the technical challenges.
This paved the best way for the X2 know-how demonstrator which proved out the effectivity and the viability of this know-how. Sikorsky seen this as the proper alternative for the U.S. Military’s armed aerial scout which was supposed to switch the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, the Future Assault Reconnaissance Plane (FARA) program, which resulted within the S-97 Raider.
The inflexible rotor system is a vital factor of the S-97’s design, and is alleged to even have 50% much less components than an articulated rotor. Not like conventional helicopters, the S-97 employs inflexible rotors with an efficient hinge offset considerably greater than standard designs.
Whereas helicopters just like the UH-60 Black Hawk have a hinge offset (the gap between the flapping hinge and the rotor mast, used as a measure of the rigidity of the rotor) of 12-18%, the X2 boasts a determine exceeding 40%, doubtlessly reaching 45%. This elevated rigidity enhances management energy and reduces response time, permitting for exact maneuverability.
For the reason that counter-rotating rotors cancel out torque results, as a substitute of a tail rotor, the S-97 encompasses a pusher propeller that gives ahead thrust. This can be a vital part of the S-97’s excessive pace functionality, which allowed the plane to succeed in 207 kts in stage flight, whereas with out the prop the S-97 “solely” reaches 150 kts.
The pusher propeller is engaged by way of a clutch system and will be disengaged solely. Based on the state of affairs, extra energy will be allotted to the pusher propeller than to each predominant rotors mixed, versus the small fraction utilized by tail rotors in standard helicopters.
The system permits for variable thrust output, together with a major destructive pitch vary, which might act as an airbrake. For example, throughout an aggressive assault touchdown the place the helicopter approaches the touchdown zone at excessive pace, placing destructive pitch on the prop permits to rapidly decelerate with out having to carry the nostril up an excessive amount of, which might trigger a lack of situational consciousness and visibility in some of the delicate phases of the flight.
You possibly can learn our in-depth report concerning the S-97 right here.
