AH-6i Ontwikkelingen

[Ace1]

Night Stalker MH-6 Little Bird's Ability To Appear Out Of Nowhere Highlighted In Tanker Raid

The Little Bird helicopter's small size and incredible transportability means that it can appear from virtually anywhere, on land or at sea.

mages showing an MH-6 Little Bird taking part in today's operation to seize the runaway Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, hundreds of miles away from the nearest land, were widely met with befuddlement. This is a relatively tiny special operations helicopter that cannot be refueled in flight and has a short range. However, its small size and incredible transportability means that it can appear from virtually anywhere, on land or at sea. These are among the capabilities that have long endeared the type to the U.S. Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers.

Readers can get up to speed on the operation targeting the Marinera with our reporting here.

Russian news outlet RT first published imagery said to have been taken from the deck of the reflagged Marinera, showing at least one MH-6 Little Bird approaching the ship. Fox News and CBS News have now reported that helicopters from the 160th SOAR brought in U.S. Navy SEALs to board the ship as it sailed in the North Atlantic. TWZ has been working to independently confirm the employment of the Little Birds, specifically, as well as other details about the operation. U.S. aviation assets, especially various special operations types, had been spotted pouring into the United Kingdom amid reports that an attempt to seize the tanker, formerly known as the Bella 1, looked increasingly imminent. The Night Stalkers had already had a monumental past week with their role in the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.

The 160th SOAR currently operates a fleet of what are formally known as Mission Enhanced Little Birds (MELB), produced by Boeing. The MELBs are heavily modified with specialized avionics built to help with flying at very low-levels in complex environments and at night, as well as defensive systems and other capabilities that increase the egg-shaped helicopter's survivability.

The MELBs can be readily configured and reconfigured as either MH-6 or AH-6 subvariants. The MH-6 is described as an "assault" configuration with planks on either side for special operators to ride on. The helicopters can land to insert those operators, or they can use the Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES) to rappel down to their objective.

The AH-6 is a light attack configuration that swaps the personnel planks for mounting systems enabling the helicopter to carry an array of weapons, including Gatling-type machine guns, Hellfire missiles, and 70mm rockets.

Where the Little Birds that took part in the Marinera boarding operation launched from is still unknown. As noted, 160th SOAR's AH/MH-6s cannot refuel in flight and have relatively limited unrefueled range (officially stated to be 250 miles, per the 2025 edition of U.S. Special Operations Command's Fact Book). Night Stalker Little Birds can be fitted with various types of range-extending auxiliary fuel tanks. Even so, whether they would have been able to fly to the tanker from a base on land in the region is unclear, but it seems unlikely, especially with special operators strapped to their outsides.

As already mentioned, the helicopters more likely flew from the decks of one of the vessels that supported the mission, which included a U.S. Coast Guard Legend class cutter and the British Tide class replenishment tanker RFA Tideforce. It is possible the Little Birds could have already been embarked on the Coast Guard cutter for a prolonged period before the actual operation today, and the 160th has trained for such operations in the past.

Regardless, the tanker seizure operation puts a spotlight on the unique operational independence and flexibility that the 160th's Little Birds offer.

"It is your street fighter," Paul Kylander, the product manager for the AH/MH-6s within U.S. Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) Program Executive Office-Rotary Wing (PEO-RW), told TWZ and others at the annual SOF Week conference last year. "When the operators want to get to your front door, this is the aircraft that they're going to use. Very surgical strike, very precision attack, is what you're going to get from these platforms."

The Night Stalker's nimble Little Birds excel at getting in and out of extremely tight spots where no other helicopter can go. They are often seen dropping commandos off on building ledges and landing in very confined areas, or even flying down the streets of huge cities.

Though they have limited reach on their own, the small size of the Little Birds means significant numbers of them can be carried inside fixed-wing transport aircraft. Air Force Special Operations MC-130 tanker-transports can carry two in a near ready-to-fly configuration at once, while larger C-17s can transport at least five at a time. The helicopters have folding rotors and other features specifically designed to allow personnel on the ground to roll them off of larger aircraft and then get them operational very quickly. This is measured in minutes, not hour

Transport aircraft can carry the AH/MH-6 helicopters across distances of thousands of miles, directly to forward operating locations far closer to their intended objectives. Those destinations could include far-flung sites with little, if any established infrastructure, including rough landing strips. With far less requirements for fuel and other support compared to the MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-47 Chinooks in the 160th's inventory, the Little Birds also offer a different degree of ability to operate independently for prolonged periods after arriving in a forward area. AH/MH-6s do, of course, also regularly operate directly together with other Night Stalkers helicopters in highly integrated, seamless formations, as well as with other U.S. military aircraft, to a lesser degree.

The benefits that the Little Birds offer apply to operations from ships, as well as bases on land. AH-6/MH-6s require much less deck space than most other helicopters in service across the U.S. military, and more of them can also be tucked into hangars or in the holds on vessels that were designed to accommodate larger types or even no aircraft at all. They can also just be stowed in an area on the deck of a ship. They just need enough room to takeoff from. This unlocks a near endless list of vessel types they can operate from, which drastically expands their operational flexibility and can spell real trouble for an adversary.

Some of the diminutive helicopters famously operated from U.S. Navy warships, as well as barges turned into floating bases, during the so-called "Tanker War" sideshow to the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s. In that instance, then-new "AH-58" Kiowa Warrior armed scout helicopters operated by conventional U.S. Army units eventually took the place of the Little Birds. Last year, TWZ explored the particular value of the 160th's AH/MH-6s in maritime operations in more detail after one of the helicopters emerged wearing a blue camouflage wrap.

In addition, all of this allows for the employment of Little Birds, in general, with a very different level of discretion, as they can more readily be concealed even after being deployed. There have been claims that the 160th's repertoire of tactics, techniques, and procedures has included being prepared to bring the helicopters to forward locations clandestinely inside civilian trucks, which we will come back to in a moment.

There is a long history of the use of members of the extended Little Bird family by U.S. special operations forces and intelligence agencies to support covert and clandestine missions, as TWZ has explored on several occasions in the past. With non-military style paint schemes, the helicopters can even blend in to a degree in the open. Versions of the Little Bird continue to see widespread civilian and commercial use globally, with the helicopter type being made famous after starring in Magnum, P.I. in the 1980s.

In his 2015 book Relentless Strike, author Sean Naylor offers a Little Bird anecdote that is especially relevant in relation to planning for a covert operation into Laos to rescue Americans captured during the Vietnam War, which was ultimately aborted. He writes:

"JSOC [Joint Special Operations Command] rehearsed extensively in Hawaii for the mission, which would involve a task force launching from the tiny Pacific island of Tinian in the Northern Marianas and using an abandoned and overgrown U.S. military airfield in Thailand as a forward staging base. With the airfield under control, C-5 transport planes would have landed, bearing JSOC's own version of a Trojan horse: white, civilian-style eighteen-wheel trucks, each hiding two TF 160 [Task Force 160; another term used to refer to the 160th SOAR] AH-6 Little Birds with folded rotor blades. As Delta operators made their way overland to the prison camp TF 160 personnel would have driven the trucks close to the Laotian border, before stopping and launching the helicopters. TF 160 kept this rarely used technique known in JSOC as 'Smokey and the Bandit' after the 1977 trucker comedy starring Burt Reynolds up its sleeve for decades, because it offered a clandestine way to move a lethal capability close to a target. 'Our guys were trained and even had the truck licenses,' said a TF 160 veteran. The unit had its own trucks, but locally obtained vehicles would suffice 'with maybe a couple of days' work and some welding,' he said. When the time came to launch the aircraft, the crew would roll them off the back of the truck and have them flying within three minutes. 'You have to be really well trained,' the TF 160 veteran said. 'It's absolutely an incredible capability.'

While TWZ cannot confirm the details in Naylor's book, specifics about the planned prisoner of war rescue operation, nicknamed Operation Pocket Change, including the expected use of Little Birds, have been reported elsewhere over the years. The prospect that Americans remained in captivity in Southeast Asia for years or decades following the end of the Vietnam War has been and continues to be a controversial topic.

Regardless, Little Birds can be trucked clandestinely in commercial vehicles or shipping containers, even behind enemy lines, something other helicopters within the 160th SOAR's stable can't come close to doing.

All this speaks to why the 160th SOAR has continued to operate Little Birds long after non-special operations units with the U.S. military stopped flying other versions of the helicopter. Night Stalker AH/MH-6s now look set to remain in service even longer than might have been expected following the cancellation of the Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program in 2024. There had been plans to replace roughly half of the Little Birds with a special operations variant of the FARA aircraft.

It's also worth noting here that Boeing announced its intention to shutter its Little Bird production line and "transition to a focus on sustainment and support for the platform's customer base." Separate production of versions of the Little Bird will continue through MD Helicopters.

Overall, much is still to be learned about the U.S. operation today to seize the tanker Marinera, and the role played by the 160th SOAR. However, what has already emerged has highlighted the ability of the Little Birds to do things, go places, and hide in areas that no other Night Stalkers helicopters can.


https://www.twz.com/air/night-stalker-mh-6-little-birds-ability-to-appear-out-of-nowhere-highlighted-in-tanker-raid?utm_source=pushly

[Harald]

[Huzaar1]

Er zijn genoeg tweedehands civiele MD500/530 op markt deze voorzien van wapens, flares en andere miltaire uitrusting lijkt mij geen probleem.

Ik zit met mn hoofd bij een andere heli. Excuus.

[Ace1]

Ja, dit zijn inderdaad wel vann die machines die OEK mist daarvoor.

We hadden 2 jaar geleden de productielijnen open moeten gooien voor OEK.

Er zijn genoeg tweedehands civiele MD500/530  helicopters op de markt deze voorzien van wapens, flares en andere miltaire uitrusting lijkt mij geen probleem. 

[Huzaar1]

Geef Oekraine 200 stuks van de AH-6i en het front verplaats zich richting het oosten en de Krim.

Ja, dit zijn inderdaad wel vann die machines die OEK mist daarvoor.

We hadden 2 jaar geleden de productielijnen open moeten gooien voor OEK.

[Ace1]

Geef Oekraine 200 stuks van de AH-6i en het front verplaats zich richting het oosten en de Krim.

[Umbert]

Doet me altijd denken aan de film Fire birds / wings of the apache   

Sommige stills uit deze film zijn gebruikt in het spel Gunship2000

[Harald]

Doet me altijd denken aan de film Fire birds / wings of the apache   

[Ace1]

Mooi klein vogeltje, maar met scherpe klauwen 

Zeker heeft Tweety scherpe klauwen.

[Ace1]

Klopt 

Huzaar en Master Mack doen het vast in hun broek als Tweety de Leopard 2A8 in het vizier heeft.

[Ace1]

Klopt 

Er is toch ook een onbemande versie van?

[Harald]

Zie ik dat goed dat AH-6I ook uitgerust kan worden met Hellfire ?

Klopt 

[Harald]

Boeing test eerste voor Thailand bestemde Little Bird

MESA – De eerste van acht voor de Royal Thai Army bestemde AH-6I Little Bird heeft bij de Boeingfabrieken in Mesa een eerste testvlucht uitgevoerd. De AH-6 is een lichte aanvalshelikopter.

Thailand bestelde de helikopters in september 2019 nadat de exportcommissie van de Amerikaanse senaat groen licht gaf voor de verkoop ervan. De helikopters worden via de U.S. Army geleverd en gaan verouderde AH-IF Cobra's vervangen.

De AH-6I kan gebruikt worden voor lichte aanvalstaken en verkenningen en is afgeleid is van de door MD Helicopter gebouwde AH-6 Little Bird. De I-variant is echter uitgerust met geavanceerde technologie die ook in Boeing's AH-64E Apaches kan worden aangetroffen.

https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2024/10/04/boeing-test-eerste-voor-thailand-bestemde-little-bird/

Mooi klein vogeltje, maar met scherpe klauwen 

[Ace1]

Zie ik dat goed dat AH-6I ook uitgerust kan worden met Hellfire missiles?

[Ace1]

Boeing test eerste voor Thailand bestemde Little Bird

MESA – De eerste van acht voor de Royal Thai Army bestemde AH-6I Little Bird heeft bij de Boeingfabrieken in Mesa een eerste testvlucht uitgevoerd. De AH-6 is een lichte aanvalshelikopter.

Thailand bestelde de helikopters in september 2019 nadat de exportcommissie van de Amerikaanse senaat groen licht gaf voor de verkoop ervan. De helikopters worden via de U.S. Army geleverd en gaan verouderde AH-IF Cobra's vervangen.

De AH-6I kan gebruikt worden voor lichte aanvalstaken en verkenningen en is afgeleid is van de door MD Helicopter gebouwde AH-6 Little Bird. De I-variant is echter uitgerust met geavanceerde technologie die ook in Boeing's AH-64E Apaches kan worden aangetroffen.

https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2024/10/04/boeing-test-eerste-voor-thailand-bestemde-little-bird/

[Harald]

US confirms AH-6i sale to Thailand

Thailand's earlier approval for the Boeing AH-6i light attack helicopter has now been firmed up into a confirmed sale.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has confirmed the sale of eight Boeing AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft to Thailand, with a related contract notification posted in late December 2023.

With US State Department approval for the sale having been granted in September 2019, US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) disclosed that it is to award BAE Systems a contract to integrate the Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets that were included in the original US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification.

The APKWS contract notification firms up the USD400 million deal for eight AH-6i Little Bird helicopters that will enable the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to retire its seven ageing Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters.

Further to the impending NAVAIR contract for 200 APKWS rockets, the deal will include 50 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 10 Dillion M134 7.62 mm Miniguns, four General Dynamics GAU-19/B 12.7 mm Gatling guns, 500 70 mm Hydra rockets, 20 night-vision goggles, eight WESCAM MX-10Di electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, as well as other equipment and support.

"As part of a broader military modernisation effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers, and border guard units," the DSCA said in its original approval notification.

Thailand is the second customer for the AH-6i, with Saudi Arabia operating the type (designated AH-6SA in national service) in its national guard.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-confirms-ah-6i-sale-to-thailand

[Harald]

Boeing wins helicopter contract for Thailand

Boeing has been awarded a contract for AH-6 light-attack helicopters to Thailand, the U.S. Defense Department announced Feb. 18.

The department said Boeing's Mesa, Arizona, location was issued a $103.8 million modification to a contract for AH-6 aircraft with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2025.

..../....

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2022/02/23/boeing-wins-helicopter-contract-for-thailand/

[Ace1]

WASHINGTON, September 24, 2019 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of eight (8 ) AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $400 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Thailand has requested to buy eight (8 ) AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters; fifty (50) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; and two-hundred (200) Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Rockets. Also included are ten (10) M134 Mini Guns, ten (10) M260 Rocket Launchers; ten (10) M299 Longbow Hellfire Launcher; ten (10) AN/APN-209 Radar Altimeter; eight (8 ) AN/APR-39(V)(4) four (4) GAU-19/B .50 Cal Machine Gun; five-hundred (500) Hydra 70 Rockets; twenty (20) AN/AVS-6 Night Vision Goggles; eight (8 ) WESCAM MX-10Di Cameras; ten (10) AN/APX-123 IFF; ten (10) AN/ARC 201E-VHF-FM; ten (10) AN/ARC-231 w/ MX-4027; ten (10) LN-251 Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (EGI); Aircrew Trainer (ACT); Pilot Desktop Trainer (PDT); Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT;, contractor provided pilot and maintainer training peculiar ground support equipment; spares; publications; integrated product support; technical assistance; quality assurance team; transportation; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $400 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally in INDO-PACOM. Thailand is a strategic partner committed to contributing to regional security.

The proposed sale of the AH-6i helicopter will improve the Royal Thai Army's (RTA) light attack capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. These AH-6i helicopters will replace the RTA's aging fleet of seven AH-IF Cobra helicopters. As part of a broader military modernization effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers and border guard units. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor for the AH-6i is Boeing Company, Mesa, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any permanent additional U.S. Government or Contractor representatives to Thailand.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

https://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/thailand-ah-6i-helicopters

[Ace1]

Saudi National Guard receives first batch of Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird helicopters

The Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) has received its first batch of Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird reconnaissance helicopters.

The first batch of new Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird reconnaissance helicopters arrived in Saudi Arabia on 4 June, said the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Guard, Major Mohamad Omari. The reconnaissance helicopters arrived at airbase of 1st Aviation Brig at Khashm Al-Aan.

The AH-6SA is a special attack variant of the MH-6 light helicopter for the Saudi Arabia National Guard.

The AH-6 is a highly capable light attack / armed reconnaissance helicopter specifically designed with superior performance characteristics and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment ideal for Light Attack, Precision Attack, Anti-armor, Close Combat Attacks, Reconnaissance, Security & Escort, Troop Insertion/Extraction, Combat Search & Rescue.

http://defence-blog.com/news/saudi-national-guard-receives-first-batch-of-boeing-ah-6sa-little-birds-helicopters.html

[Sparkplug]

DUBAI: Boeing sees foreign sales reviving AH-6 Little Bird

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dubai-boeing-sees-foreign-sales-reviving-ah-6-littl-462347/

[Harald]

Thailand – AH-6i Helicopters

https://dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/thailand-ah-6i-helicopters

US approves AH-6i sale to Thailand

The US State Department has approved the sale to Thailand of eight Boeing AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft, as well as associated weapons, equipment, and support.

The approval, which was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 24 September, is valued at USD400 million and will enable the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to retire its seven ageing Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters.

As noted by the DSCA, the proposed sale covers the Little Bird-family helicopters, 50 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 200 BAE Systems Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets, 10 Dillion M134 7.62 mm Mini-Guns, four General Dynamics GAU-19/B 12.7 mm Gatling guns, 500 70 mm Hydra rockets, 20 night vision goggles, eight WESCAM MX-10Di electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, as well as other equipment and support.

"As part of a broader military modernisation effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers, and border guard units," the DSCA said.

The approval for Thailand comes about 21 months after the US Army issued a request for information (RFI) for up to 120 AH-6 helicopters for Saudi Arabia and other undisclosed allied operators. The request covered the manufacture and delivery of the Little Bird helicopters in the AH-6SA (Saudi Arabia) and AH-6i (International) configurations.

The US Army stated that the AH-6SA/AH-6i helicopters will be delivered in the Performance Enhancement Production Upgrade Configuration. This comprises composite main rotor blades, upgraded mast /mast base HI-LOK fasteners, reverse direction tail rotor system (including directional flight controls and tail rotor drive shaft), and an extended tail boom.

https://www.janes.com/article/91495/us-approves-ah-6i-sale-to-thailand

[Ronald Elzenga]

Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.

...

Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache

Ik zie hier dan meer iets in een H125M Fennec UCAV...en dan een Optionally piloted vehicle (OPV). De drone-uitvoering bestaat nog niet maar lijkt me wel een nuttige optie en aanvulling op bestaande bemande middelen (al kan Airbus helicopters mogelijk een ander model voor dit doel ontwikkelen/gebruiken)

[dudge]

nah... 1  type gevechtsheli is afdoende. Voor NL. Bewapen de cougar of nh90 maar. Kunnen die escortes verzorgen voor chinooks. We hadden dan beter voor cobra's kunnen gaan. Volgens mij logistiek ook beter te behappen en met de seacobra is dat een kleine uitstap.

Wat moet saudi arabie met al die spulletjes btw? Volgens mij is dat nu een van de best uitgeruste krijgsmachten ter wereld die geen eigen industriele basis hebben.

Ze hebben ook het op twee na grootste defensie budget, alleen China en de VS moeten ze ruim voor laten gaan. Landen als Rusland, Japan en Frankrijk lopen er aardig op achter.

[Huzaar1]

Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.



Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache

nah... 1  type gevechtsheli is afdoende. Voor NL. Bewapen de cougar of nh90 maar. Kunnen die escortes verzorgen voor chinooks. We hadden dan beter voor cobra's kunnen gaan. Volgens mij logistiek ook beter te behappen en met de seacobra is dat een kleine uitstap.

Wat moet saudi arabie met al die spulletjes btw? Volgens mij is dat nu een van de best uitgeruste krijgsmachten ter wereld die geen eigen industriele basis hebben.

[Harald]

Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.



Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache

[Harald]

Saudi Arabia accepts first AH-6i helos

Saudi Arabia has accepted into service the first of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters, the manufacturer disclosed in the December issue of its in-house magazine, Frontiers .

While Boeing did not name Saudi Arabia, it said in Frontiers that the first international customer accepted the type in August.

The company told reporters in June that deliveries would begin from its Mesa production facility in Arizona in the coming weeks, but declined to discuss the issue after that. The US Army too would not comment to IHS Jane's on the sale, which has been widely reported to be for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), beyond a Federal Business Opportunities notification posted in August in which it said that the first 12 helicopters would be transported to Saudi Arabia "as soon as possible".

http://www.janes.com/article/66454/saudi-arabia-accepts-first-ah-6i-helos

[Harald]

US to deliver first AH-6i helos to Saudi Arabia 'as soon as possible'

The US government is making the final preparations for the shipment of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters to Saudi Arabia, with a solicitation for their transportation being posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on 24 August.

According to the notification, the first 12 helicopters will be transported to the kingdom by air to get them to the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) "as soon as possible", with the remaining 12 to follow by ship.

With production now fully underway at Boeing's Mesa facility in Arizona, deliveries were supposed to have commenced at the end of July but had been delayed for unspecified reasons.

http://www.janes.com/article/63256/us-to-deliver-first-ah-6i-helos-to-saudi-arabia-as-soon-as-possible

[Sparkplug]

In de  MD 530F zit geen Apache techniek in en daarnaast is MD Helicopters geen onderdeel van Boeing maar een kleine fabrikant dat circa 10 jaar geleden grote problemen kende, of een outsider zoals PZL.

De MD 530F van MD Helicopters (v/h McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems v/h Hughes Helicopters) en de AH-6 van Boeing moeten ook apart van elkaar worden gezien, ondanks dat laatst genoemde is gebaseerd op de MD 500 reeks.

[Ace1]

Twelve more Cayuse Warrior Scouts for Afghanistan



Afghanistan has acquired twelve more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters, MD Helicopters reported on Tuesday 11 January. The purchase follows an earlier order for twelve similar helicopters, the first of which arrived in Afghanistan early last year.

The first twelve armed helicopters were operational in theater in fewer than nine months from contract award and have participated in a number of successful operations. Afghanistan already operated five MD 530F helos before, operating them as primary training aircraft in Afghanistan. These choppers have since been upgraded to the Cayuse Warrior configuration.

The 12 new Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack helicopters will be delivered in the first half of 2016, MD Helicopters says.

http://airheadsfly.com/2016/01/12/twelve-more-cayuse-warrior-scouts-for-afghanistan/

In de  MD 530F zit geen Apache techniek in en daarnaast is MD Helicopters geen onderdeel van Boeing maar een kleine fabrikant dat circa 10 jaar geleden grote problemen kende, of een outsider zoals PZL.  De Poolse luchtmacht is de enigste klant v.d. militaire variant.  En civiele varianten vliegen in Brazilie, Italie, Oekraine, Zuid-Korea en China.   Hoewel PZL natuurlijk onderdeel is van Agusta Westland.
Dan zal men ten eerste gaan kijken bij Airbus Helicopters en een Amerikaanse grote fabriek zoals Bell. Een zwaar wegende factor voor MinDef is ook de (financiële) stabiliteit / continuïteit van het bedrijf.  En hun ambtenaren zien grote bedrijven als stabieler dan kleine bedrijven.  

[Harald]

Twelve more Cayuse Warrior Scouts for Afghanistan



Afghanistan has acquired twelve more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters, MD Helicopters reported on Tuesday 11 January. The purchase follows an earlier order for twelve similar helicopters, the first of which arrived in Afghanistan early last year.

The first twelve armed helicopters were operational in theater in fewer than nine months from contract award and have participated in a number of successful operations. Afghanistan already operated five MD 530F helos before, operating them as primary training aircraft in Afghanistan. These choppers have since been upgraded to the Cayuse Warrior configuration.

The 12 new Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack helicopters will be delivered in the first half of 2016, MD Helicopters says.

http://airheadsfly.com/2016/01/12/twelve-more-cayuse-warrior-scouts-for-afghanistan/

[Ace1]

Saudi AH-6i deliveries to begin mid-2016


Saudi Arabia is to begin receiving 24 AH-6i helicopters from the end of June 2016.

Saudi Arabia is set to receive the first of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters in June 2016, a US Army spokesperson confirmed to IHS Jane's on 9 October.

Production of the helicopter for the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) will commence at Boeing's Mesa facility in Arizona on 1 December, with the first being handed over on 30 June 2016.

The confirmation follows a 'sources sought' notice for the transportation of an unspecified number of helicopters from the United States to the kingdom, as well as for pilot and maintainer training, that was issued by the US Army's Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft project office (NSRWA PO) earlier this year.

Boeing was awarded the contract to build the light attack and reconnaissance helicopters in September 2014 (although it was actually revealed by Boeing in late 2013). A company official had previously stated that deliveries would begin in December 2016 and run through to the end of the following year at a rate of two helicopters per month, although this now seems not to be the case.

The AH-6i procurement is part of a wider build-up of the SANG's rotary-winged capabilities, which includes the procurement of 12 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters and 24 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters. The SANG's Apaches are expected to begin arriving sometime this year (this may have already started), while images have been posted online claiming to show the first UH-60Ms arriving in Saudi Arabia (the US Army has failed to respond to an IHS Jane's request for confirmation).

Further to the SANG's procurements, the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF) began receiving the first of its 36 new Apaches in September 2014, and the Royal Guard is reported to be acquiring 10 AH-64Es also (although it is believed that these may instead be diverted to the RSLF).

http://www.janes.com/article/55163/saudi-ah-6i-deliveries-to-begin-mid-2016

[Sparkplug]

Paris Air Show 2015: Boeing to start work on AH-6i production facility later this year

Gareth Jennings, Paris - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly | June 15, 2015

Boeing is to begin building a production line for its AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopter later this year, a company official disclosed in late May.

Speaking ahead of the Paris Air Show, Brad Rounding, business development for rotary-winged platforms at Boeing's Mesa facility in Arizona, said that work to build the line would start in December, with assembly of the first helicopter following in December 2016. The line will then produce the 24 helicopters currently contracted at a rate of two per month through to December 2017.

As had been previously announced, MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) will provide the green fuselages ahead of systems and weapons integration by Boeing.

"Having a warm production line will be a real game changer for the AH-6i, giving potential customers a real show of confidence in the aircraft," Rounding said.

Boeing currently has one customer for its AH-6i, with 24 helicopters under contract. While Rounding declined to name the customer, the US Army has officially disclosed it to be Saudi Arabia.

This contract was awarded to Boeing in September 2014 (although it was actually revealed by Boeing in late 2013), and in April of this year the US Army's Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft project office (NSRWA PO) issued a sources sought notice for transporting these helicopters from the United States to Saudi Arabia, as well as for pilot and maintainer training.

The first production-standard AH-6i made its maiden flight out of Mesa on 1 May. According to Rounding, this aircraft, which the company has designated the AH-6X, is currently undergoing flight trails.

Boeing has previously estimated a potential global market of around 700 helicopters for the Little Bird, predominately aimed at replacing ageing MD 500-series and AH-1 Cobra platforms. While Rounding declined to name specific countries, he said that there was a great deal of interest shown by several potential operators. Jordan signed a letter of intent some years ago, but has yet to sign a contract.

Though this number includes the 400-something helicopters for the US Army's now-defunct Armed Aerial Scout requirement, the service has said that it still has a requirement for a light observation helicopter of this class, raising the prospect for a future procurement.

http://www.janes.com/article/52220/paris-air-show-2015-boeing-to-start-work-on-ah-6i-production-facility-later-this-year

[Ace1]

Uitbreiding van onze heli vloot met 2 nieuwe types zoals de AH-1Z en CH-53K is zelfs bij een defensie begroting opgehoogd met EUR 1 miljard per jaar financieel niet haalbaar.  In Den Haag zal je met dit idee ook geen poot aan de grond krijgen.

Het klopt wat je zegt maar een AH-6i die de Rotor, boordcomputer en instrumenten van de Apache deelt zal toch een ander verhaal zijn?

[Ace1]

Boeing Will Begin Production of AH-6i 'Little Bird' This Year


Boeing will start production of the AH-6i international variant of the Little Bird light attack helicopter this year.

Boeing Defense will begin production of the AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopter in Mesa, Ariz., by the end of the year. The manufacturer declined to name the first buyer, which the U.S. Army has previously identified as the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The latter agency will acquire 24 international Little Birds through a foreign military sale (FMS).

"We are starting up a production line this year...and this aircraft will be in production," Bradley Rounding, Boeing manager of attack helicopter business development, told reporters in Philadelphia on May 22. "So that's a significant event for our team." Boeing expects to build two helicopters per month and complete deliveries to the launch customer by December 2017.

Mesa-based MD Helicopters, formed from the former McDonnell Douglas commercial helicopter division, will supply the fuselages for the first 24 helicopters, Rounding said. Boeing will perform final assembly, flight test and delivery.

The Army awarded Boeing a $234 million FMS contract last year to supply AH-6is to Saudi Arabia. The Little Bird international variant was contained in a huge arms deal the U.S. and Saudi governments negotiated in 2010. "So far we have one (customer)," Rounding said. "We have a number of others we are working with and we're excited about future opportunities."

The AH-6i borrows from Boeing's development of the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter and the A/MH-6M Little Bird used by U.S. special forces. Its integrated digital cockpit is Apache-derived, with a "state of the art" mission computer that manages weapons systems and sights, Rounding said. The production aircraft is fitted with an L-3 Wescam MX-15Di imaging turret with laser rangefinder and designator, but its open systems architecture supports different sensors.

There are two weapons stores on each side of aircraft, allowing for a weapons mix that includes an M-134 minigun, .50 caliber GAU-19B machine gun, M260 seven-shot rocket pods and up to four semi-active laser Hellfire missiles. These were derived from special forces helicopters. "They've developed and qualified all of the weapons on the aircraft," Rounding said. "When we developed this program, we reached back to those weapons that were already qualified for special operations and we pulled them forward to the airframe we ultimately called the AH-6i."

The wing stores also support 30-gallon conformal fuel tanks on each side, providing an additional 60 gallons of fuel, or about two and a half hours of endurance. Another option the AH-6i accommodates is a 63-gallon "Goliath" internal auxiliary fuel tank.

Boeing was conducting development testing on an AH-6X production standard helicopter in advance of starting the production line. The first production-configuration AH-6 made its maiden flight on April 18, 2014.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-05-26/boeing-will-begin-production-ah-6i-little-bird-year

[Ace1]

[Ace1]

US Army prepares for AH-6i deliveries to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is shortly to begin receiving the first of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters, it was disclosed on 30 March.

The US Army's Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft project office (NSRWA PO) has issued a sources sought notice for the transportation of an unspecified number of helicopters from the United States to the kingdom, as well as for pilot and maintainer training.

The notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website does not indicate a timeline for deliveries to commence, but does state that responses must be received no later than midday on 10 April.

A contract for manufacture of 24 AH-6i helicopters was awarded to Boeing in September 2014 (although it was actually revealed by Boeing in late 2013).

The AH-6i is based on the 1960s-era Hughes Model 369 (OH-6 Cayuse in US Army service) light scout helicopter, and features an enhanced powerplant, payload, and avionics package.

The Rolls-Royce 250-C30R/3M powerplant (combined with a six-bladed main rotor assembly with composite blades) gives it the ability to 'hover out of ground effect' at 6,000 ft and 95°F (the US Army's 6k/95 benchmark) with a typical mission weight of 1,800 kg (two crew members, full fuel, and weapons).

Its weapons fit includes the Dillon M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun, General Dynamics GAU-19 12.7 mm Gatling gun, FN Herstal M3P 12.7 mm chain gun, Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, as well as a variety of seven-shot 'dumb' or laser-guided 70 mm rocket systems mounted on the four-station weapons planks (two on each side of the helicopter). The AH-6i is also equipped with a chin-mounted L-3 Wescam MX-15Di electro-optic/infrared sensor turret.

The AH-6i's improved avionics are based on the same software as the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter, making for improved performance and interoperability.

The Saudi deal marks the first sale of the AH-6i for Boeing, although Jordan has signed a letter of intent for 18 such helicopters with an option for a further six.

http://www.janes.com/article/50321/us-army-prepares-for-ah-6i-deliveries-to-saudi-arabia

[Ace1]

Een slimme zet van Boeing om de MH-6 Little Bird te voorzien van Apache Techniek.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMdrMIYiFx4

[Ace1]

Boeing scouts AH-6i market

Boeing's Dave Brostrom briefed media about the light armed helicopter and their expectations of its market potential at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA2015)



"Apache – AH-64E, V-22, CH-47 and the AH-6. That's our market profile there. AH-6i has been around for couple of years now. The first customer is Saudi Arabia. 24 units with the options to buy more. They're just now going into production. Malaysia is a big market for us as well as the Philippines – we've had inquiries from Bangladesh and some others."
Genesis of the AH-6i

"So we started with the US SOCOM (Special Operations Command) MH-6 – it has the same drivetrain, it has the same engine as the AH-6i. So we took a lot of that capability and we put it into the AH-6. Then we took the Apache and we put an Apache tail rotor on this for high-hot performance and then we took the Apache software and put it into the AH-6, so it has about 89 percent of the Apache software in this aircraft.

So it's designed for scout missions, light attack missions – we can do a heck of a lot more – search and rescue – comes with a hoist if you want it. There's a whole bunch of different options we have with this airplane."

What's in the kit?


AH-6i

"We actually put a sensor which is an MX-15D – that's the standard sensor on this. Some of the competitors out there have a little bit smaller ones. MD Helicopters has the MX-10 – I think that's what they offer. We can put an MX-10 on this, we can put FLIR systems on this – we're pretty flexible but the standard what we try to market is MX-15Di – it's an L3 product.
So six-bladed main rotor – it's a big difference. Competitors out there: five. Tail rotor: Canted, four-bladed, Apache technology tail rotor. Competition: two-bladed. So there's a significant difference in performance with additional blades.

Our airframe is beefed up in order to handle the additional torque, so we put additional formers and stringers throughout this frame to beef it up. We've extended the nose so all of the avionics which you would see in some other competitors that are back here (rear), we've moved forward. It helps in the forward CG of the airplane, plus it frees up space here (rear).

It's a fully integrated glass cockpit. We have one of the best sensors that L3 provides – we can put others. Here's a big differentiator: crashworthy stroking seat. There are two helicopters in the world that have the best crashworthiness. One is Apache – it's about 56Gs. Number two is AH-6i. US SOCOM paid for us to develop the seat – it's stroking – it's about a 30G seat. You won't find that in any helicopter in the world in this type of class. So your most valuable asset, which is your pilots – if you have to crash, there's a pretty good chance they're going to walk away. That's why US SOCOM had us develop the seat to put it in. This is available for international customers.

All of our fuel tanks are ballistic-tolerant – .50 caliber, crashworthy – the main tank is separable – that means it's crashworthy. The aux tank is self-sealing – .50 caliber. The landing gear – we extended the landing gear for crashworthiness and also to clear the ball. So it serves two purposes. So that adds to the survivability of the airplane."

Weaponry

"We have a lot of different stuff we can put on there but it's Hellfire – it's fully integrated – we've launched it. It's available for international customers. We have the M-134 mini-gun which some of our competitors have – it's a Dillon gun. We have the GAU-19 .50 caliber, which we usually use as a – it's a better weapons if you're going after hard targets. And then we've got 7-shot rocket pods – we can fire lock-on-after-launch – BAE APKWS or the Raytheon Talon – it doesn't matter. Or we can fire the DAGR – the Lockheed Martin Direct Attack Guided Rocket, which is a lock-on-before-launch but thinks it's a Hellfire missile. So you acquire the target and you can shoot it. You don't have to be in forward movement when you fire the rocket. And of course the SAL (Semi-Active Laser) Hellfire.

If you take a look at the back end – so you have different planks you can put on – Dillon makes one – but what it does is allow you to mix-and-match a lot of things. So our fuel tank here – that's 60 gallons, so it gives you another two hours of fuel. If you're firing an M-134, the cans are 3,000 rounds on each side. That's 6,000 rounds of 7.62. If you're firing the GAU-19, it's 3,000. So significant amount of ammunition. Compare that to our competitors. So we carry more ammunition.

And then the dual weapons pylons – Hellfire, 7-shot rocket – you can mix-and-match – it has very high lateral CG, so we're not afraid to mix-and-match weapons."

Powerplant

"The engine: we have 250-C47E/1 (Rolls-Royce), which is a bit more powerful than our competitors – dual FADEC for reduced uncommanded failures, better performance – so that's what we use in this aircraft. The same engine that the US Army's been using for years. In their Kiowa Warriors and their Task Force 160, so it's a very reliable engine."

Fuel Capacity

"Competitors: They don't have an extra fuel tank. The planks where they mount their weapons is a fuel tank, but its' not ballistic tolerant, which is an issue. So your weapons are hanging on a fuel tank. Different concept – works, right – but it also takes up more space so the weapons cans are a little bit less – they don't carry as much weapons, 'cos it's sitting on those fuel tanks. So we've designed it to put it in the back. This is about 60 gallons. This is all engineered to fit.

This tank – it's easy. If you want to slide it out, you can – put something else, put it right back in. You can fire a Herstal, like it's out there on the MD – that'll fit here – not a problem, so that's self-contained and that would free all this space up for seats – put seats in the back.

Minutes, just minutes. It was designed for swapping and mission change."

Payload

"This is a differentiator: 4,700 pounds – that's max. gross weight. Useful load is 2,400 pounds. No restrictions on landing and taking off. With the competitors you can take off with a full load of gas and weapons and everything – you can't land. You have to jettison or reduce the weight in order to land. That's a big differentiator. We're not constrained here with that restriction."

Sensor



That's just a picture of this MX-15 and how much you can zoom – it's a very capable stand-off sensor. Night and day – laser range finder and designator – automatic video tracker – it has a better GPS system – laser spot tracker – laser illuminator, so there's a lot of capability in here, especially if you're designating for a JDAM for fixed wing.
So it's really good for interoperability with other services. This sensor is better than what's on the Apache. Just more fidelity and clarity. Range is about the same as on the Apache."

Logistics

"They like it because it's designed to go into austere environments and it doesn't require a whole logistical trail like the Apache. Apache requires a support trail. This doesn't – couple of tool boxes.

You could put troops on one side and weapons on the other if that's what you want to do."

Interoperability with Apache AH-64


AH-6i Cockpit

"This is the Apache – the rear cockpit, the pylon station on the Apache – it looks very similar to this. Same multi function displays – these are a little bit bigger 'cos we had the room – you have the heads-up display, stand-by instruments – all that is there. The buttons are the same so if an Apache helicopter came in, this aircraft could do digital target transfer – it could accept targets from the Apache, it could deliver digital messages to the Apache – and guess what – they use the same map-sheet, they use the same symbology, so it's really good for interoperability with other Apache users, like US Army.
The nation that doesn't want to buy the big behemoth of the Apache can buy one of these and they're almost connected."

Weather capability

"It has obstacle avoidance. You could technically go inadvertent IMC – in the clouds or heavy fog, program the computer, this airplane will take you right back down and hover right down to where you took off from. If you did all the obstacle avoidance planning on the map displays, it'll take you back. But it also has the capability to ILS, VOR – those things are in this aircraft."

Data and Mission Computer

"It's designed to keep the pilot outside the airplane. So all the critical information is here – so he has to wear goggles – his head is outside. It's not inside looking at a display – everything is out.

It has the digital capability – aircraft-to-aircraft, aircraft-to-ground. You can plan the complete mission – this is nothing knew, just like the Apache. You plan the mission on a Mission Planning Station. You take a disk or a thumbdrive – you plug it in.

The mission computer – large amounts of data. Talked about sharing information. The best thing about this that you have the 30 and 40 years of Apache development that's ported over to this airplane and the software is designed for a an attack helicopter pilot. It is not a commercial off-the-shelf software. So if you're an attack helicopter pilot this was designed for you. It gives you better situational awareness.

This is the FLIR, but it also has a fly through on the map display where you can just fly through your terrain just using your computer database. So, enhances situational awareness and reduces pilot workload and we have the lowest operational cost – we can prove this with any aircraft in this class. Very low operational support cost. And that's what, usually, when you buy a helicopter or any airplane – you find and very quickly discover it's very expensive to maintain and support through it's life cycle. This airplane is very low support cost.

We offer all different ranges of support, from just basic spares all the way up to full Performance Based Logistics package where we do everything. All they do is walk out and fly away."

Cost

"Apache is 60 million. Depends on what you buy with it. This is about a third of that cost. So you could say an off-the-shelf price is – depends on what you want – a basic package is around 9 or 10 million – depends on how many airplanes you want to buy and what you want to put in it.

About a third of the cost of the Apache. But it really depends on what you buy. The weapons systems are expensive – the Dillon guns are 300,000 apiece. Start adding those things on and pretty soon the price goes up. Buy Hellfire – 80,000 dollar missile – so it really depends on what you buy."

Market Potential

"The Philippines – they're interested. Bangladesh – submitted paperwork. Of course Malaysia – they have a light attack helicopter requirement they're trying to move toward. We've been asked to price 6, 12 and 24. It's an FMS case.

The launch customer was Saudi Arabia National Guard. So, 24 airplanes with options for more. There are many Middle-East countries that are coming towards us – talking, actually had some paperwork in – lot of FMS working cases, where we haven't signed any LOAs so there's a lot of interest in this aircraft."

Development and Upgrades

"Every time there's a software change in the Apache, we can apply it to this. It's all open system architecture, so the growth path in this is very good.

We developed it for the old army scout program and that fell through but we decided that there was an international market and that's how we're doing it. So we used a lot of the – of what Special Operations Command is telling us to do – we leveraged."

Maritime Operations

"This airplane has been used of ships for many years. The taskforce – they don't navalize it, they don't maritime it – they just wash it a lot. You can marinize – you can dip – we have a process, if the customer wants we can dip it."

http://www.stratpost.com/boeing-scouts-ah-6i-market