Documents
United States Boeing
AH-6 Little Bird
A light, single-engine attack and special-operations helicopter derived from the OH-6 Cayuse, flown by the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Its small size and agility make it suited to close-quarters urban strike and direct-action support missions.
In service since 1980 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
282
km/h
430
km range
5,837
m ceiling
431
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not consistently publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 1980. Status: active · ~400 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the AH-6 Little Bird can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 282 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 240 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 430 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 5,837 m |
| Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat. | 8 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 7.62 mm M134 minigun |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 2 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 431 kg |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Limited, lightweight airframe optimized for speed and agility |
|---|---|
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | AN/AVR-2 laser warning receiver, infrared jammer (mission-dependent) |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 9.7 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.7 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 726 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,610 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 1x Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turboshaft, 650 hp |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 1 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 650 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | FLIR turret (mission-dependent), night-vision-compatible cockpit |
|---|---|
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 400 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird has a maximum speed of 282 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird has a maximum range of 430 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird can carry up to 431 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird weigh? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird has a combat weight of 1,610 kg.
How many crew does the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird require? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird's primary weapon is the 7.62 mm M134 minigun.
What engine does the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird use? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird is powered by the 1x Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turboshaft, 650 hp.
What is the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird used for? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird is a helicopter typically used for close air support, isr.
How many countries operate the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird? +
The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the Boeing AH-6 Little Bird cost? +
Boeing AH-6 Little Bird: Unit cost not consistently publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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