Difference between revisions of "AH-6M"

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The '''AH-6M Little Bird''' (nicknamed the Killer Egg) is a class of light helicopters utilized primarily for special operations by the U.S. Army. The prototype was designed to compete in U.S. Army Technical Specification 153 in 1960 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) that could perform personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks to replace the existing Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. The Hughes Model 369 competed against two other prototypes, developed by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. The Hughes Model 369 had its maiden flight on February 27, 1963. The teardrop-shaped fuselage provided excellent external visibility, and thanks to its four-bladed, fully articulated primary rotor, it was incredibly agile, making it excellent for personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks. Hughes was given a production contract by the U.S. Army in May 1965. A gunship variant, known as the AH-6, was painted black primarily for night-time operations.
 
The '''AH-6M Little Bird''' (nicknamed the Killer Egg) is a class of light helicopters utilized primarily for special operations by the U.S. Army. The prototype was designed to compete in U.S. Army Technical Specification 153 in 1960 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) that could perform personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks to replace the existing Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. The Hughes Model 369 competed against two other prototypes, developed by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. The Hughes Model 369 had its maiden flight on February 27, 1963. The teardrop-shaped fuselage provided excellent external visibility, and thanks to its four-bladed, fully articulated primary rotor, it was incredibly agile, making it excellent for personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks. Hughes was given a production contract by the U.S. Army in May 1965. A gunship variant, known as the AH-6, was painted black primarily for night-time operations.
  
Introduced in the [[Update "Sky Guardians"]], the AH-6M is a twin-seat (gunner and pilot next to each other) light helicopter that can carry a capacity of up to six passengers. With a diverse arsenal of weapons at its disposal, the AH-6M can conduct a wide range of missions in the game, from scouting to anti-armour. With its exceptional manoeuvrability and small size, it possesses remarkable agility and is capable of performing extreme evasive manoeuvres that most other helicopters cannot. With its thermal imaging device and ballistic computer, it can readily scout for targets for the friendly team and provide close air support with Hydra-70 M247 rockets when necessary. The AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which converts standard unguided Hydra-70 M247 rockets into precision-guided munitions, is also available for the AH-6M. This enables the helicopter to precisely eliminate lightly armoured targets from a distance, making it a more "economic" alternative when the AGM-114 Hellfire can be saved for heavier armoured adversaries.
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Introduced in [[Update "Sky Guardians"]], the AH-6M is a twin-seat (gunner and pilot next to each other) light helicopter that can carry a capacity of up to six passengers. With a diverse arsenal of weapons at its disposal, the AH-6M can conduct a wide range of missions in the game, from scouting to anti-armour. With its exceptional manoeuvrability and small size, it possesses remarkable agility and is capable of performing extreme evasive manoeuvres that most other helicopters cannot. With its thermal imaging device and ballistic computer, it can readily scout for targets for the friendly team and provide close air support with Hydra-70 M247 rockets when necessary. The AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which converts standard unguided Hydra-70 M247 rockets into precision-guided munitions, is also available for the AH-6M. This enables the helicopter to precisely eliminate lightly armoured targets from a distance, making it a more "economic" alternative when the AGM-114 Hellfire can be saved for heavier armoured adversaries.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==

Revision as of 08:50, 7 August 2023

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
AH-6M
ah_6m.png
GarageImage AH-6M.jpg
AH-6M
AB RB SB
9.7 10.3 10.0
Research:370 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:990 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The AH-6M cockpit features 5 displays of which 3 are adjustable.

The AH-6M Little Bird (nicknamed the Killer Egg) is a class of light helicopters utilized primarily for special operations by the U.S. Army. The prototype was designed to compete in U.S. Army Technical Specification 153 in 1960 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) that could perform personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks to replace the existing Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. The Hughes Model 369 competed against two other prototypes, developed by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. The Hughes Model 369 had its maiden flight on February 27, 1963. The teardrop-shaped fuselage provided excellent external visibility, and thanks to its four-bladed, fully articulated primary rotor, it was incredibly agile, making it excellent for personnel extraction, scouting, and light attacks. Hughes was given a production contract by the U.S. Army in May 1965. A gunship variant, known as the AH-6, was painted black primarily for night-time operations.

Introduced in Update "Sky Guardians", the AH-6M is a twin-seat (gunner and pilot next to each other) light helicopter that can carry a capacity of up to six passengers. With a diverse arsenal of weapons at its disposal, the AH-6M can conduct a wide range of missions in the game, from scouting to anti-armour. With its exceptional manoeuvrability and small size, it possesses remarkable agility and is capable of performing extreme evasive manoeuvres that most other helicopters cannot. With its thermal imaging device and ballistic computer, it can readily scout for targets for the friendly team and provide close air support with Hydra-70 M247 rockets when necessary. The AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which converts standard unguided Hydra-70 M247 rockets into precision-guided munitions, is also available for the AH-6M. This enables the helicopter to precisely eliminate lightly armoured targets from a distance, making it a more "economic" alternative when the AGM-114 Hellfire can be saved for heavier armoured adversaries.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 1 000 m252 km/h
Max altitude3 475 m
EngineAllison 250-C30
Power440 hp
Take-off weight2 t

Describe how the helicopter behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics Max speed
(km/h at 1,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
AB RB
Stock 223 210 3475
Upgraded ___ ___

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear320 km/h

Examine the survivability of the helicopter. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB9 599 → 13 189 Sl icon.png
RB4 333 → 5 953 Sl icon.png
SB5 592 → 7 683 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications286 000 Rp icon.png
426 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 400 Ge icon.png
Crew training280 000 Sl icon.png
Experts990 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces890 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 260 / 390 % Sl icon.png
214 / 214 / 214 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods cd 98 main rotor.png
Replacing helicopter blades
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
24 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
24 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
36 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods heli flak jacket.png
Flak jacket
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods heli structure.png
Helicopter frame
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
24 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
24 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
36 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
31 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
46 000 Sl icon.png
540 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
M163_Minigun_new_gun
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
28 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods gunpods.png
Gun pod GP-19
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
24 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
APKWS II
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
24 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
GAU_19_belt_pack
Research:
24 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
36 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
GAU_19_new_gun
Research:
31 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
46 000 Sl icon.png
540 Ge icon.png
Mods atgm heli preset.png
AGM-114
Research:
31 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
46 000 Sl icon.png
540 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Night vision devices
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night
Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns) CCIP (Rockets) CCIP (Bombs)
Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png

Suspended armament

The AH-6M can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

  • 38 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
  • 4 x AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles
  • 14 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
  • 2 x 7.62 mm M134 Minigun machine guns (6,000 rpg = 12,000 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm GAU-19 machine guns (1,200 rpg = 2,400 total)
  • 14 x APKWS II (M151) missiles
  • 14 x APKWS II (M282) missiles

Custom loadout options

1 2 3 4
Hardpoints AH-6M.png
7.62 mm M134 Minigun machine guns (6,000 rpg) 1* 1*
12.7 mm GAU-19 machine guns (1,200 rpg) 1* 1*
Hydra-70 M247 rockets 7, 19 7, 19
AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles 2* 2*
APKWS II (M151) missiles 7 7
APKWS II (M282) missiles 7 7
* M134 Minigun machine guns cannot be equipped in conjunction with GAU-19 machine guns or AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles on the neighbouring hardpoint

Usage in battles

The AH-6M Littlebird is a great attack helicopter for close air support. Its speed, agility, and small size allow it to make use of cover behind small buildings and hide from enemy tanks and aircraft.

The AH-6M Littlebird has options to carry 7.62 mm Miniguns with Hydra-70 rockets, APKWS, or AGM-114 Missiles. You cannot use both the 7.62 mm Minigun with the 12.7 Minigun on the same side.

Use the AH-6M's excellent manoeuvrability and small size to evade enemy fire. Favour unpredictable flight paths, low-altitude flying, and sudden changes in direction to make yourself a difficult target.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very agile
  • Thermal vision device
  • 360° laser
  • Wide cockpit view

Cons:

  • No armour
  • No countermeasures
  • Limited loadout options

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the helicopter in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the helicopter;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters  F2H-2 · F3H-2
  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
  F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
Strike Aircraft  AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters  AH-6M
Export/Licensed 
Aircraft  ◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
  F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
  ▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters  Lahatut
  The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

USA helicopters
Attack 
Black Hawk  MH-60L DAP
Choctaw  H-34
Cobra  AH-1F · AH-1G · AH-1Z
SuperCobra  AH-1W
Kiowa  OH-58D
Little Bird  AH-6M
Apache  YAH-64 · AH-64A · ▃AH-64A Peten · AH-64A (GR) · AH-64D
Utility 
Huey  UH-1B · UH-1C · UH-1C XM-30