Boeing AH-6

The Boeing AH- 6 is a series of light reconnaissance and attack helicopters. It was developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems based on the MH -6 Little Bird and MD 500 series.

  • 2.1 armament

Variants

ULB

The first model of the AH- 6 series was the ULB prototype (Unmanned Little Bird ), where it was a UAV technology demonstrator. But in the context of AMUST -D program ( Airborne Manned / Unmanned System Technology Demonstration ) was a civilian MD 530F machine from Boeing rebuilt. Objective of the program by Boeing privately funded was to improve the coordination of manned and unmanned systems. The ULB made ​​its first flight on 8 September 2004. The actual test program began in April 2006, when the ULB was remotely controlled by an AH -64. In a total of 450 flight hours, the weapons system officer of the Apaches the ULB controlled via an L3 Data Link. Large parts of the test missions completed the ULB autonomous, the interventions of the WSO limited primarily to the target acquisition and the use of Hellfire missiles.

A/MH-6X MELB

When the U.S. Army abandoned the development of the RAH -66 after the Iraq war in 2003, Boeing offered the model MH -6M MELB ( Mission Enhanced Little Bird ) as a replacement for the OH -58D. The U.S. Army rejects the model and chose 2005 for the ARH -70 Bell. Since Boeing believed that you can market the model yet, we developed the MELB - concept based on the ULB on and presented the 2007 A/HM-6X. It is in the broadest sense is a hybrid model, which can be used both manned unmanned. Compared with the ULB prototype payload was increased and provided a glass cockpit for manned flights. Furthermore, some upgrades have been carried out in the field of electronics and avionics.

AH -6S

After the development of the ARH -70 was canceled, Established 2009 Boeing AH -6S model as an alternative for the successor to the OH -58D before. Compared to A/MH-6X the hull was lengthened by 38 inches to make room for the recovery of pilots to offer in the combat zone. This makes it the AH -6S allows to carry out a small extent SAR missions. Furthermore, with the nose has been reworked for aerodynamic reasons and creates space for additional avionics equipment. Various components of the cockpit and the main rotor were taken from the AH- 64D Block III to reduce the production and development costs. The viability of the engine to improve the tail rotor is enhanced and efficient Rolls-Royce used as a drive shaft 250 CE30 turbine. It is not yet known whether the U.S. Army will buy this model.

AH- 6I

In the AH- 6I is a proposed export version of the AH -6S. Flight testing began on 16 September 2009 in Mesa. The helicopter has a six -bladed main rotor and is driven by a shaft turbine Allison 250-C30R/3M with 595 kW of power. The cockpit is equipped with an electronic flight instrument system, and there is an L-3 Wescam sensor container MX -15 is available, the television cameras in the visible and infrared light, and a laser rangefinder includes. Jordan expressed in May 2010, interest in this model.

Specifications

Arming

  • 2 × ATAS (Air To Air Stinger ) double - guided missile launchers for 2 × Raytheon AIM -92 " Stinger " RMP Block I - infrared controlled for short distances
  • 2 × LAU-68D/A-Raketen-Rohrstartbehälter for each 7 × unguided FFAR air -to-ground missiles Hydra; Caliber 70 mm
  • 2 × LAU-131/A-Raketen-Rohrstartbehälter for each 7 × unguided FFAR air -to-ground missiles Hydra; Caliber 70 mm
  • 2 × M299 missiles suspensions for 2 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM- 114F / N " Hellfire" - laser controlled
Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Bell OH-58 Kiowa FIM-92 Stinger M230 Chain Gun Hiller YH-32 Hornet Sikorsky R-6 Sikorsky R-4 Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Piasecki H-21 Kaman SH-2 Seasprite Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard Bell 47 Boeing CH-47 Chinook Sud-Ouest Djinn Brantly B-2 Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 De Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle Kaman K-225 Bell XV-3 McDonnell XV-1 Bell YAH-63 Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel
135730
de