Boeing Will Begin Production of AH-6i 'Little Bird' This Year

Boeing will begin production of the AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopter, by the end of the year. The manufacturer declined to name the first buyer, which the U.S. Army has previously identified as the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The latter agency will acquire 24 international Little Birds through a foreign military sale (FMS).
The Army awarded Boeing a FMS contract last year to supply AH-6is to Saudi Arabia. The Little Bird international variant was contained in a huge arms deal the U.S. and Saudi governments negotiated in 2010.
The AH-6i borrows from Boeing’s development of the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter and the A/MH-6M Little Bird used by U.S. special forces.
There are two weapons stores on each side of aircraft, allowing for a weapons mix that includes an M-134 minigun, .50 caliber GAU-19B machine gun, M260 seven-shot rocket pods and up to four semi-active laser Hellfire missiles.
The wing stores also support 30-gallon conformal fuel tanks on each side, providing an additional 60 gallons of fuel, or about two and a half hours of endurance. Another option the AH-6i accommodates is a 63-gallon internal auxiliary fuel tank.
ainonline

US To Start AH-6i deliveries to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is shortly to begin receiving the first of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters.
The US Army's Non-Standard Rotary-Wing Aircraft project office has issued a sources sought notice for the transportation of an unspecified number of helicopters from the United States to the kingdom, as well as for pilot and maintainer training.
A contract for manufacture of 24 AH-6i helicopters was awarded to Boeing in September 2014.
The AH-6i is based on the 1960s-era Hughes Model 369 (OH-6 Cayuse in US Army service) light scout helicopter, and features an enhanced powerplant, payload, and avionics package.
Its weapons fit includes the Dillon M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun, General Dynamics GAU-19 12.7 mm Gatling gun, FN Herstal M3P 12.7 mm chain gun, Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, as well as a variety of seven-shot 'dumb' or laser-guided 70 mm rocket systems mounted on the four-station weapons planks. The AH-6i is also equipped with a chin-mounted L-3 Wescam MX-15Di electro-optic/infrared sensor turret.
The AH-6i's improved avionics are based on the same software as the Boeing AH-64E Apache .
The Saudi deal marks the first sale of the AH-6i for Boeing, although Jordan has signed a letter of intent for 18 such helicopters with an option for a further six.
janes

Boeing awarded AH-6i contract for Saudi Arabia

Boeing has been formally awarded a contract for the manufacture of 24 AH-6i Little Bird light attack/reconnaissance helicopters for Saudi Arabia.
The contract, which was first revealed by Boeing in late 2013 but only announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 29 August, is valued at USD234.7 million and covers the procurement of long-lead items, an initial spares package, and ground support equipment. Work will be complete by 31 December 2016.
janes

Production standard AH-6i Little Bird makes maiden flight

The first production standard Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack/reconnaissance helicopter has made its maiden flight.
In November 2013 Boeing disclosed it had signed its first customer for the AH-6i, which has been developed specifically for the international market. Company officials have declined to name that customer, but it's understood that it's Saudi Arabia, which is to receive 24 helicopters.
Developed from the 1960s-era Hughes Model 369, the AH-6i is the latest incarnation of MD 500-series operators, and the US Special Operations Command in the guise of the AH/MH-6 Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB).
The AH-6i's payload fit includes the Dillon M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun, General Dynamics GAU-19 12.7 mm Gatling gun, FN Herstal M3P 12.7 mm chain gun, Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, as well as a variety of seven-shot 'dumb' or laser-guided 70 mm rocket systems.
janes

Boeing confirms launch deal for armed AH-6i

Boeing has received the green light to start building AH-6i light attack helicopters for an undisclosed customer trhought FMS [Foreign Military Sales] program.
Derived from the AH-6 Little Bird , the i-model has been the subject of previous FMS requests from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Boeing declines to name its launch buyer.
The United Arab Emirates has now received seven F-model examples from a 16-unit order.

Chile shopping for light attack helicopters

Chile is looking at the Eurocopter EC 635, the Bell 407 AH and the Boeing AH-6i as candidates for its light attack helicopter contest.

istockanalyst

Boeing demonstrates AH-6i for US Army

Boeing has completed a flight demonstration of the AH-6i for the US Army, in anticipation of the service's Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) programme.

flightglobal

Jordania confirma la compra de helicópteros AH-6/Jordan to shop for 18 to 24 AH-6

Boeing ha comunicado que espera firmar la venta a Jordania de 18 a 24 unidades de su nuevo helicóptero de ataque ligero AH-6 a finales de 2010, así como 36 unidades para Arabia Saudí.
Jordania ha evaluado el helicóptero durante casi un año, tanto en el desierto jordano como en Estados Unidos, y en mayo firmó una carta de intenciones para su compra.
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Boeing officials revealed today that they expect to sign a contract with Jordan for 18 to 24 of its new AH-6 light attack choppers by the end of the year while another 36 of the birds are set to go to Saudi Arabia as apart of the $60 billion arms deal recently penned with the United States.
Jordan has been testing the new chopper for nearly a year now, both in the desert Kingdom and in the Southwestern U.S., and in May it signed a letter of intent to buy the aircraft.
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Jordania cerca de comprar 6 helicópteros de reconocimiento AH-6i/Jordan opts for AH-6 Attack helicopters

En una ceremonia celebrada en la base aérea King Abdullah, en Jordania, ejecutivos de Boeing y altos representantes jordanos han firmado la carta de intenciones para la compra de 6 helicópteros ligeros de reconocimiento AH-6i. El AH-6i, incorpora algunos de los avances tecnológicos del AH-64D Apache Block III.
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Boeing and the Government of Jordan today announced the signing of a Letter of Intent for the AH-6i Light Attack/Reconnaissance.
In a brief ceremony,held at King Abdullah base, Jordanian officials and Boeing executives signed the letter in anticipation of continued discussions leading to a contractual agreement for purchase of the AH-6i Light Attack/Reconnaissance Helicopter.
The AH-6i features a fully integrated cockpit design that incorporates AH-64D Apache Block III helicopter software technologies.

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