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AH-6 Little Bird
Photo: Dave1185 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
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AH-6LittleBird

Attack Helicopters · United States · 2004
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AH-6LittleBird

AH-6 Little Bird
AH-6 Little Bird Photo: Dave1185 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Firepower
65
Anti-Armour Capability
55
Survivability
70
Sensors & Targeting
60
Agility
90
Range & Endurance
50
Night Capability
75
Reliability
85
Technology
70
Cost-Effectiveness
80
Origin United States
ManufacturerBoeing
CategoryAttack Helicopters
EraPost-Cold War
In service2004
Operators5 countries
Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
67
Attack Helicopters MASS Rating
10/11
Post-Cold War
32/45
All-Time
Attack Helicopters · 10 axes scored
Firepower
65
Anti-Armour Capability
55
Survivability
70
Sensors & Targeting
60
Agility
90
Range & Endurance
50
Night Capability
75
Reliability
85
Technology
70
Cost-Effectiveness
80
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the attack helicopters category.
01 / Overview
AH-6 Little Bird
Prime contractor
Production
2004–
Unit Price (current)
$2.0M
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
ATTACK HELICOPTERS · POST-COLD WAR
10
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$2.0M
Inflation: +%0
67
attack helicopters category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the attack helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General4MOD.4
  • First Flight2006
  • Crew2
  • Passengers4
  • Primary RoleLight attack / reconnaissance
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
  • Engine TypeAllison T63-A-700 / Rolls-Royce 250-C30
  • Number of Engines1
  • Engine Power (each)313 kW
  • Transmission Rating313 kW
  • Rotor ConfigurationSingle main rotor + tail rotor
  • Main Rotor Diameter8.33 m
  • Main Rotor Blades5
  • Anti-Torque TypeTail rotor
▣Performance10MOD.10
  • Top Speed282 km/h
  • Cruise Speed248 km/h
  • Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)282 km/h
  • Service Ceiling4,875 m
  • Hover Ceiling (IGE)3,170 m
  • Hover Ceiling (OGE)2,590 m
  • Range430 km
  • Ferry Range800 km
  • Rate of Climb10.2 m/s
  • Endurance180
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
  • Fuselage Length9.4 m
  • Height2.5 m
  • Rotor Disc Area54.5
  • Empty Weight726 kg
  • Max Takeoff Weight1,406 kg
  • Useful Load680 kg
  • Cabin Volume1.13
◆Armament & Mission8MOD.8
▲Production1MOD.1
  • Variants4
◎Service History1MOD.1
  • Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 2004Production started
  2. 2019Sale: Thailand (8 units) · $104 M
22
years in service
4
countries operating
ⓘ 1 countries retired it.
04 / Operators
AH-6 Little BirdSALES2records
YearBuyerQuantityAmountPresent Value (2025)
2019Thailand8$103.8 M$130.7 M
—Saudi Arabia24——
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE12terms
Anti-Tank Guided Missile: a missile designed to destroy tanks.
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Chaff/Flare: Countermeasures deployed by attack helicopters to disrupt radar- or heat-seeking missiles by creating false targets or decoys.
Armored protective panels installed in the cockpit area of an attack helicopter to shield the crew from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
Combined forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and electro-optical (EO) sensor turret for target acquisition and tracking, typically mounted on aircraft or ground vehicles.
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit featuring electronic instrument displays, typically LCD or CRT screens, replacing traditional analog gauges.
A helmet-mounted system that projects flight, targeting, and sensor data directly into a pilot's field of view.
Electronic receiver system that detects and identifies radar signals, alerting aircraft to potential threats for defensive countermeasures.
A mechanical device used to lift personnel or cargo via a cable, typically mounted on helicopters for rescue or recovery operations.
Aerodynamic containers mounted on aircraft, typically helicopters or fighter jets, that hold and launch unguided rockets in rapid succession.
Fuel tanks equipped with a material that automatically seals punctures from small arms fire or shrapnel to prevent leakage and reduce fire risk.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Attack Helicopters entry →