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AH-6J (MH-6J) Little Bird, US Army
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Scale 1:32 Length (without rotors)11.5"
Rotor 13.5"
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Photography by Action Asia Photo |
The AH-6J stems from the Model 369 developed by Hughes Aircraft Company as a prototype for the US Army in the early 1960s. That helicopter was re-designated the OH-6A Cayuse and used during the Vietnam War. Its success led to several variants including the Hughes 500 which was the military export version and is in service with over 20 countries world wide. Later development produced the MD-500 Defender variants which introduced the distinctive T-tail. Next followed several more variants which included the MD-530 series that had upgraded engines and improved avionics plus other changes to the line of specialty light helicopters. The latest versions - based on the MD-530F - are the AH-6J attack helicopter and the MH-6J insertion and extraction helicopter. Called Little Bird, these helicopters feature a more powerful engine, GPS/inertial navigation system and forward-looking infrared. The AH-6J/MH-6J avionics package consists of five different and secure radio communication types - FM, UHF, VHF, Motorola Saber, and SATCOM. The FLIR is a passive system that provides an infrared image of terrain features and ground/airborne objects and these images can be recorded on a standard VHS video cassette. The helicopter is equipped with the APR-39 Radar Warning Receiver System which detects and identifies hostile search and fire control radars. The AH-6J can be armed with two seven-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers and two 7.62mm M134 mini-guns. It can also be armed with .50 caliber machine guns, 40mm grenade throwers (MK19), Hellfire missiles, and Air-to-Air Stinger missiles. The AH-6J Little Bird is capable of conducting overt and covert infiltrations and combat assaults over a wide variety of terrain and environmental conditions including hot weather, high-altitude flight. It is also used for Command & Control and reconnaissance missions. Its small size allows for transport in C-5, C-17, C-130 and C-141 cargo aircraft and the helicopter has been modified so a well-trained crew can deploy it in 15 minutes. A C-130 can carry three Little Birds while a C-141 can carry six. Little Birds have been used for "direct actions" in Grenada, Panama, the Gulf, Desert Storm, Somalia and various other places that remain classified. The Mission Enhanced Little-Bird program is upgrading the MH-6M and AH-6 fleet with a six bladed main rotor, canted four bladed tail rotor, 600 hp main transmission drive and improved engine inlet. While structural modifications will increase gross weight, a lightweight Hellfire system and miniaturization of components will off-set that somewhat. Further changes will be the use of strap-on/off technology, an integrated weapon management system and external conformal fuel tanks to make the aircraft more efficient. Crew: Pilot, co-pilot and 6
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