The Chinese language clone of the Sikorsky S-97 Raider compound helicopter appeared once more in a video just lately emerged on-line.
Months after the primary photos emerged on-line, the Chinese language clone of the Sikorsky S-97 Raider appeared once more in a video just lately emerged on-line. Precisely like its U.S.-made counterpart, this compound helicopter options two coaxial primary rotors and a pusher propeller.
It’s unclear when and the place this video was captured. The primary photos, which we coated in a earlier report right here at The Aviationist, emerged in August 2025 however have been reportedly captured in April 2025 and initially solely revealed on the Chinese language social media Weibo.
The Changhe coaxial testbed was seen once more!
(through @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 may need now been outfitted with an aerodynamic fairing over the rotor hub. Nonetheless, the helicopter additionally seems to be longer than within the earlier photos, opening to the potential for modifications to the airframe or perhaps a new, bigger variant being constructed. This could be considerably much like Sikorsky’s program, which noticed a bigger variant of the identical plane, the SB>1 Defiant, being developed based mostly upon the identical expertise.
The standard of the video and the space at which it was captured don’t enable to discern helpful particulars.
China’s coaxial compound helicopter.
The inflexible coaxial rotors with push propellers provides it a glossy profile, excellent for top velocity pressured entry into enemy airspace.
With a velocity 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 typical helicopter, this compound helicopter options two coaxial counter-rotating primary 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 expertise.
The helicopter has a slender form optimized for greater velocity, with two four-bladed counter-rotating coaxial primary 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 needs to burn off true fireworks of stories – as a result of as we speak this coaxial helicopter (most likely a check provider) was proven for the primary time.
(Picture through @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 prolong up, on the alternative aspect. The primary 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 best aspect, beginning in coincidence of the principle rotors’ mast and ending the place the engine outlet is situated. It’s unclear if there’s additionally a cabin within the space behind the principle touchdown gear and beneath the principle rotors, though the standard of the photographs emerged final 12 months didn’t enable to discern many particulars.
Chinese language navy aviation observers famous that this plane could possibly be a small-medium measurement expertise demonstrator for subsequent era configurations, considerably much 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 utility, because the compound helicopter was not the one one to emerge.
The truth is, a tiltrotor has additionally been unveiled, reported to be constructed by Hafei Aviation Trade, a subsidiary of Harbin Plane Trade Group (HAIG). Alternatively, the design of this S-97 clone is attributed to Changhe Plane Trade Group (CAIG), a subsidiary of AVIC, which reportedly began engaged on the venture in 2023.
As famous in lots of China’s navy applications, there are a number of parallels with U.S. developments, with some examples being the J-35 fighters, with variant for each the air power and navy, and the EMALS catapults. Given the curiosity that the U.S. confirmed within the new helicopter applied sciences, China may need determined to check comparable applied sciences to guage which of them are extra suited to its navy doctrine and wishes.
Trying on the primary benefits, a tiltrotor and a compound helicopter would prolong the vary and the velocity of China’s helicopter fleet. In a navy utility, it will 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 by utilizing 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 enable the plane to shortly arrive on the battlefield, decrease the publicity to threats and use some “methods up the sleeve” to flee enemy hearth.
The S-97 Raider
Virtually precisely a 12 months in the past, The Aviationist was among the many retailers who have been invited to the Sikorsky Improvement Flight Heart to attend an illustration of the X2 expertise and get an up-close take a look at the S-97 Raider. Equally to the Chinese language helicopter, this compound helicopter has two coaxial counter-rotating primary 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 Nineteen Seventies. Nonetheless, 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 objective of considerably rising helicopter flight velocity. The idea is predicated on the rotor’s capability to develop raise on the blade that advances within the course 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 course, this design delayed the drag improve attributable to the blades’ tip Mach quantity results, thus enabling greater speeds. Expertise developed by means of 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 few of the technical challenges.
This paved the best way for the X2 expertise demonstrator which proved out the effectivity and the viability of this expertise. Sikorsky considered this as the proper selection 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 essential ingredient of the S-97’s design, and is claimed to even have 50% much less components than an articulated rotor. In contrast to 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 space 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.
Because the 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. It is a essential element of the S-97’s excessive velocity functionality, which allowed the plane to achieve 207 kts in stage flight, whereas with out the prop the S-97 “solely” reaches 150 kts.
The pusher propeller is engaged through a clutch system and will be disengaged completely. In line with the scenario, extra energy will be allotted to the pusher propeller than to each primary rotors mixed, versus the small fraction utilized by tail rotors in standard helicopters.
The system permits for variable thrust output, together with a big detrimental pitch vary, which might act as an airbrake. For instance, throughout an aggressive assault touchdown the place the helicopter approaches the touchdown zone at excessive velocity, placing detrimental pitch on the prop permits to shortly decelerate with out having to carry the nostril up an excessive amount of, which might trigger a lack of situational consciousness and visibility in one of the vital delicate phases of the flight.
You possibly can learn our in-depth report in regards to the S-97 right here.
