The Boeing AH-6 is a series of light helicopter gunships based on the MH-6 Little Bird and MD 500 family. Developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, these include the Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) demonstrator, the A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB), and the proposed AH-6I and AH-6S.
The Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator, which Boeing built from a civilian MD 530F, first flew on September 8, 2004, and made its first autonomous flight (with safety pilot) on October 16, 2004.[1]
In April 2006, Boeing used the ULB to demonstrate the ability of another helicopter, in this case an AH-64 Apache to remotely control the ULB's weapons payload as a part of Boeing's Airborne Manned/Unmanned System Technology Demonstration (AMUST-D) program. For the initial test, the Apache Longbow was on the ground, while the ULB was airborne several miles away and Hellfire missiles were fired from the ULB by a tester sitting at the co-pilot's station in the Apache. Both aircraft are equipped with tactical common data link equipment and technologies manufactured by L-3 Communications.[2]
The ULB Demonstrator first flew in the unmanned mode on June 30, 2006 from the United States Army's Yuma Proving Ground, flying a pre-programmed 20-minute armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission around the facility. All previous flights during the 450 flight hour engineering development phase had a safety pilot on board, although the aircraft was typically flown remotely from the ground.[3][4]
With the successes of the ULB, Boeing incorporated its technologies into an A/MH-6, designating it the A/MH-6X. On September 20, 2006, the first A/MH-6X lifted off on its maiden flight from Boeing Rotorcraft Systems' Mesa, Arizona facility with a pilot on board. While the ULB Demonstrator had a payload of 2,400pounds, the MELB has an additional 1,000pounds of payload capacity. The A/MH-6X is similar to the A/MH-6M, but includes a prototype glass cockpit and a number of upgrades to the electronics and avionics.[5] The A/MH-6X is an optionally manned or unmanned aircraft which is a hybrid of the ULB demonstrator and the A/MH-6M mission-enhanced Little Bird which is used by US Army Special Operations Command.[6][unreliable source?]
Unmanned Little Bird, 2009
Boeing funded the development program itself; it intends to market the aircraft for both military and homeland security roles within the U.S. and internationally.[5] The aircraft is estimated to cost US$2 million.[4] The systems related to the unmanned flight capabilities have also been designed to be able to be installed in any other helicopter as well, including the Apache.[4][5] An Unmanned Little Bird performed a fully autonomous flight in June 2010, including avoiding obstacles using LIDAR.[7][8]
In 2009, it was reported that Boeing was working on the "AH-6S Phoenix" for the US Army's restarted ARH program, named Armed Aerial Scout. The AH-6S design is stretched by 15 inches (380mm) to allow room for other ARH crew shot down in combat to be recovered. The aircraft also would feature an extended aerodynamic nose to house avionics hardware. AH-6S cockpit and main rotor composite blades are to be based the AH-64D Block III. The AH-6S will have an improved tail rotor and a more powerful Rolls-Royce 250-CE30 engine.[9][10] The Little Bird has an endurance of 12hours and carries a maximum mission payload of 2,400lb (1,090kg).[6]
The AH-6i is the export version of the AH-6S. The AH-6i first flew on September 16, 2009.[11] Jordan has expressed interest in ordering the AH-6i in May 2010.[12] In October 2010 Saudi Arabia requested 36 AH-6i aircraft with related equipment and weapons from the United States through a Foreign Military Sale.[13][14]Kaman Corporation is developing a retrofittable graphiteepoxy rotorblade for the AH-6.[15]
In October 2012, the AH-6i completed a flight demonstration for the U.S. Army in anticipation of the Armed Aerial Scout program. While the AH-6i is aimed at international customers, Boeing intends to offer it for the program.[18] The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013.[19]
In December 2012, Boeing demonstrated the Unmanned Little Bird version of the AH-6 to the South Korean Army. The aircraft flew autonomously for 25minutes to demonstrate the unmanned system's capabilities that can be integrated into Army MD 500 Defender helicopters.[20]
In September 2013, Aurora Flight Sciences and Boeing offered the H-6U Little Bird for the U.S. Marine Corps unmanned lift intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability competition. Boeing, working as a subcontractor, was flying the Little Bird without human input, but with a pilot on board to comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations during testing near Manassas, Virginia. The H-6U is competing against the unmanned Kaman K-MAX, which has a usable external payload of 6,000lb (2,720kg) and has been used in theater to resupply Marines. Evaluations were to begin in February 2014 at Marine Corps Base Quantico.[21]
Marines at Quantico announced they had successfully landed an unmanned Little Bird, as well as a K-MAX, autonomously using a mini-tablet computer in April 2014. The helicopters were equipped with technology called the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS), which combines advanced algorithms with LIDAR and electro-optical/infrared sensors to enable a person holding a tablet to select a point to land the helicopter at an unprepared landing site. Autonomous landing without the need for remote control or tele-operation reduces operator burden and allows them be resupplied or conduct other missions like medical evacuation around the clock. The AACUS weighs 100lb (45kg), so it can be easily integrated onto other aircraft like the CH-53E Super Stallion and V-22 Osprey. According to Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research, operational use of the system could be possible by 2015–2016.[22] The Office of Naval Research selected Aurora Flight Sciences and the Unmanned Little Bird to complete development of the prototype AACUS system over Lockheed and the K-MAX.[23]
Royal Thai Army (8 on order, contract worth US$103.8 million)[27][28] Contract involves Korean Air on behalf of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS).[29] Sale officially confirmed on January 5, 2024.[30]
Specifications (ULB/MD530F)
A fully loaded Boeing AH-6 Little BirdA/MH-6X with a GAU-19, being loaded into a KC-130J
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[31] MD 530F data[32][33]
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↑ Osborn, Kris (5 April 2014). "Marines Fly Helicopters With Mini-Tablet". DoD Buzz. Military Advantage. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2015. Klunder said that AACUS is a year or two away from being ready for operational use.
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