List of United States military helicopters

Last updated

A Boeing AH-64 Apache, an attack helicopter RNLAF AH-64 Apache at the Oirschotse Heide Low Flying Area (36570605232).jpg
A Boeing AH-64 Apache, an attack helicopter

This is a list of United States military helicopters.

Contents

NameRoleManufacturerNotesYear of first flightIntroductionNumber built
Platt-LePage XR-1 Experimental helicopter Platt-LePage Aircraft Company First helicopter tested by the USAAF. [1] 1941Never2
Sikorsky R-4 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation World's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter used by the United States Army Air Forces. [2] 1942Unknown131
Sikorsky H-5 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation19431945300
Sikorsky R-6 Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationWorld War II19431945225
Kellett R-8 Experimental helicopter Kellett Autogiro Corporation Prototype. Program canceled 1946.1944Never2
Bell H-13 Sioux Light observation helicopter Bell Aircraft Corporation Bell 47 variant.194519462407
Bell H-12 Military utility helicopter Bell Aircraft Company Model 481946Never13 [3]
Kellett XR-10 Military transport helicopterKellett Autogiro CorporationPrototype. Program canceled 1949.1947Never2
Sikorsky S-52 Utility helicopterSikorsky Aircraft Corporation1947195193
Kaman HH-43 Huskie Firefighting/rescue Kaman Aircraft 19531958 [4] 193
Piasecki HUP Utility helicopter Piasecki Helicopter The « Army Mule ».19481949339
Hiller OH-23 Raven Multipurpose light helicopter Hiller Aircraft 194819502000
McCulloch MC-4 Light helicopter McCulloch Aircraft Corporation Evaluated by the United States Army as the YH-30 and the United States Navy as the XHUM-1.1948NeverUnknown
Sikorsky H-19 Utility helicopterSikorsky Aircraft Corporation194919501102
Vertol H-21 Cargo helicopter Piasecki Helicopter 19521954707
American Helicopter XH-26 Jet Jeep Experimental tip jet

observation helicopter

American Helicopter American Helicopter XH-26 (50-1840).jpg 1952Never5
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave Assault TransportSikorsky Aircraft CorporationLarge heavy lift helicopter used by the Army designated "Mojave" and Marines nicknamed "Deuce"19531956153
Cessna CH-1 Skyhook Light helicopter Cessna Only helicopter ever built by the Cessna Aircraft Company.1953 [5] 1956~50
De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle Experimental rotorcraft de Lackner Helicopters Prototype. Program canceled.1954Never12
Sikorsky H-34 Anti-submarine warfare helicopterSikorsky Aircraft Corporation195419542108
Bell 201 Experimental helicopter Bell Aircraft 1954Never1
Bell UH-1 Iroquois Utility helicopter Bell Aircraft The UH-1 was in the service of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Nicknamed the "Huey" because the original Army designation was HU-1.19561959>16,000
Hughes TH-55 Osage Light utility and trainer helicopter Hughes Helicopters Model 269/Model 3001956Never2,800
Sikorsky S-62 SAR/utility helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation It was used by the United States Coast Guard.19581961175
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King ASW/SAR/utility helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation used as the official helicopters of the President of the United States Marine One 195919611500
Sikorsky S-61R Medium-lift transport/SAR helicopterSikorsky Aircraft CorporationThe S-61R served in the United States Air Force and in the United States Coast Guard.19591961Unknown
Kaman SH-2 Seasprite Anti-submarine warfare helicopter Kaman Aircraft 19591962184
Boeing CH-47 Chinook Transport helicopter Boeing 196119621180
Sikorsky CH-54 Heavy-lift cargo helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 19621964105
Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight Cargo helicopter Boeing From 2004, Used only by the United States Marine Corps until 2015 retirement.19621964524
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter / Utility Hughes Helicopters Won a prototype run off between Bell, Hiller and Hughes. The Bell prototype went on to become the OH-58. The OH-6 itself is the parent of the MD 500 and MH-6 variants.196319661420
MD Helicopters MH-6 Little Bird Light Observation Helicopter MD Helicopters Derived from OH-6 lineage; used for special operations in the United States Army.19631980?
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion Heavy-lift cargo helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 19641966500
Bell AH-1 Cobra Attack helicopter Bell Helicopter Textron Was developed by Bell as an independent concept armed helicopter. The majority of parts are interchangeable with the UH-1 series. The AH1-W and Z are used in the US Marine Corps 196519671116
Bell 206 Multipurpose Utility helicopter Bell Aircraft Corporation Common prototype with OH-58.196619677300
Bell OH-58 Kiowa Observation/scout helicopter Bell Aircraft Corporation Five versions: OH-58A, OH-58C, OH58C/S, OH-58D, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior196619692200
Bell UH-1N Twin Huey Utility helicopter Bell Textron 19691970Unknown
Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne Attack helicopter Lockheed Corporation Prototype. Program canceled 1972.1967Never10
Sikorsky MH-53 Heavy-lift helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft U.S. Air Force variant of the CH-53.1967196872
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion Heavy-lift cargo helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 19741981~170 [6] [7] [8]
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Utility helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Black Hawks have served in combat during conflicts in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and other areas in the Middle East.197419792600
Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk [9] Combat Search and Rescue helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation This is another variant of the U.S. Army's UH-60 Blackhawk.19741982101
Bell YAH-63 Attack helicopterBell Model 409.

Particaped in the Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) competition. Lost to the YAH-64.

1975Never3
Boeing AH-64 Apache Attack helicopter Boeing Manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas after buyout of Hughes Helicopters.197519841174
MD 500 Defender Light multi-role helicopter MD Helicopters Based on the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light utility helicopter. Originally developed by Hughes Helicopters. Purchased by McDonnell-Douglas, eventually sold to MD Helicopters.19761976471
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk Multimission maritime helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk variant.19791984Unknown
Sikorsky HH-60H U.S. Navy Special Operations and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) helicopter Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk variant.Unknown1982112
Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin Search and rescue helicopterAérospatiale Helicopter Corporation

American Eurocopter

Used by the United States Coast Guard 19801985102
Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite ASW helicopter Kaman Aircraft US Navy 080730-N-5384B-013 he Royal New Zealand Navy SH-2G Sea Sprite prepares to land aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).jpg 19851993Unknown
Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Reconnaissance and attack helicopter Boeing/Sikorsky Prototype. Program canceled 2004. [10] 1996Never5
Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota Utility helicopter Eurocopter Adapted from the Eurocopter EC145 and built in Columbus, Mississippi.19992006 [11] 250
Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter Bell 20002010229
Bell UH-1Y Venom Utility helicopter Bell Aircraft Corporation The UH-1Y Venom is currently in full-rate production to replace the UH-1N Twin Huey 2001200892
Boeing AH-6 Light attack/reconnaissance helicopter Boeing Rotorcraft Systems ULB: September 8, 2004

MELB: September 20, 2006

In developmentUnknown
Bell ARH-70 Arapaho Armed reconnaissance helicopter Bell Aircraft Corporation Prototype. Program canceled 2008. [12] 2006Never4
Piasecki X-49 Experimental high-speed compound helicopter Piasecki Helicopter Prototype under development.20071
Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel Executive transport helicopterVariant of the AgustaWestland AW101 designed to replace the United States Marine Corps' Marine One presidential transport fleet.

In January 2005, the US101 was selected for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program, and was promptly re-designated as the VH-71. However, development was subject to delays, cost overruns, and engineering issues.

2007Canceled9
X2 Experimental compound helicopterSikorsky Aircraft / Schweizer Aircraft 2008Never1
Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion Heavy-lift cargo helicopterSikorsky Aircraft CorporationDeveloped from the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion.

CH-53K King Stallion lifts a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.jpg

20152022 [13] 9
Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot Medium-lift transport/utility helicopterSikorsky AircraftDeveloped to replace the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. presidential transport fleet. It is a militarized variant of the Sikorsky S-92.2017In developmentUnknown
Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant Compound helicopterSikorsky Aircraft / Boeing Sikorsky Aircraft and Boeing entry for the United States Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program to replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Army selected the rival Bell V-280 Valor as the winner of the program.2019Never?

See also

Notes

    The U.S. Air Force (USAF) did not exist until September 1947. Therefore the Sikorski R4 of 1942 "notes" indicate USAF. Possibly it was meant to be USAAF (U.S. Army Air Force).

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    References

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    2. "Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly". National Museum of the United States Air Force™. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
    3. Pelletier 1992, p. 92.
    4. Kaman HH-43B Huskie, National Museum of the United States Air Force, 15 July 2017.
    5. Harding, Steve. U.S. Army aircraft since 1947: An Illustrated Directory. Stillwater, MN:Specialty Press, 1990. ISBN   0-933424-53-1
    6. "CH-53E Super Stallion". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
    7. "CH-53E Super Stallion Heavy-Lift Helicopter". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
    8. "CH-53E Super Stallion". United States Navy. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
    9. Susan Young, Gallery of USAFF weapons – 2008 USAF Almanac, Air Force Magazine, May 2008.
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    11. "UH-72 | Airbus U.S." 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
    12. ARH70 Arapaho, helicopassion.com, 7 December 2010.
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    Bibliography