Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the attack helicopters category.
01 / Overview
MH-6 Little Bird
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1963–
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
ATTACK HELICOPTERS · COLD WAR
20
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
95
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the attack helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1963
- Service Entry Year1980
- Crew2
- Passengers6
- Primary RoleLight attack and special operations transport
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
- Engine TypeAllison T63-A-5A or T63-A-700
- Number of Engines1
- Engine Power (each)317 kW
- Transmission Rating317 kW
- Rotor ConfigurationSingle main rotor, four-bladed tail rotor
- Main Rotor Diameter8.33 m
- Main Rotor Blades6
- Anti-Torque TypeTail rotor
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed281.48 km/h
- Cruise Speed230 km/h
- Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)280 km/h
- Service Ceiling5,699.76 m
- Hover Ceiling (IGE)3,100 m
- Hover Ceiling (OGE)2,600 m
- Range430 km
- Ferry Range800 km
- Rate of Climb10.5 m/s
- Endurance150
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Fuselage Length9.754 m
- Height2.54 m
- Rotor Disc Area54.5
- Empty Weight720 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight1,406 kg
- Useful Load686 kg
- Cabin Volume1.1
◆Armament & Mission7MOD.7
- Hardpoints2
- Weapons Payload300 kg
- GunM134 Minigun, M2 Browning machine gun
- Anti-Tank MissilesNo
- Air-to-Air MissilesNo
- Rocket PodsYes
- Rescue HoistNo
▤Avionics7MOD.7
⬢Survivability6MOD.6
▲Production1MOD.1
- Variants6
◎Service History2MOD.2
- Production Start1963
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1963Production started
- 1978First deployment: Somali Civil War
- 1980Entered service
63
years in service
5
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
MH-6 LITTLE BIRD · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries5country
06 / MASS Score
ATTACK HELICOPTERS RANKING Attack Helicopters · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
40ATTACK HELICOPTERS20COLD WAR · ATTACK HELICOPTERS1489UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS1PERFORMANCE/PRICE · ATTACK HELICOPTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAttack Helicopterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
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.
Electronic receiver system that detects and identifies radar signals, alerting aircraft to potential threats for defensive countermeasures.
Aerodynamic containers mounted on aircraft, typically helicopters or fighter jets, that hold and launch unguided rockets in rapid succession.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources