Boeing to brief India on AH-6 light armed utility helicopter

[arp2041]

In the final stages of setting up a line for the AH-6 light armed utility helicopter, Boeing plans to weigh interest in India through briefings to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) later this year. With Boeing Rotorcraft energies currently focused on capturing the IAF attack helicopter competition, the company is lining up data and information for presentations on the AH-6i, the export version of the light chopper originally developed by McDonnel-Douglas.

While the IAF and the Army already have their light utility helicopter procurement process on—in fact at the final stage—sources in Boeing believe the AH-6i could have prospective value for India’s Special Forces and paramilitary. Like its much larger cousin, the AH-64D Apache, the AH-6i Little Bird deploys an impressive arsenal of on-board weapons, including a chain-gun, rocket pods and AGM-114 Hellfire strike missiles.

The AH-6i, with a 1-2 person crew, has a MTOW of 722-kg, can cruise at 135 knots at an altitude 18,700 feet and is powered by a single Allison 250-C30 turboshaft engine. A variant, called the AH-6S Phoenix has been pitched to the US Army for its armed aerial scout programme. So far, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have expressed interest in the platform.


Boeing to brief India on AH-6 light armed utility helicopter | idrw.org

 

[Abingdonboy]

A cool peice of kit, not too sure where it's fit wrt to India given foreign LUH deal is already in final stages and HAL LOH is being devloped with vigor. If anything if the HAL LOH project failed more foreign LUHs of the same time earlier bought (most likely Eurocopter) would simply be bought to fill the gap.

 

[Jon Snow]

Please dont tell this to the government babus or they will open up the whole LUH competition all over again.

 

[Splurgenxs]

we need to stop splurging on unnecessary hardware. One can justify the 64D cus it can be a learning experience ,but see no reason to get this.

 

[Killswitch]

India should not go to deep with the US when it comes to weapons. A few major air platforms is enough.

 

[sancho]

A cool peice of kit, not too sure where it's fit wrt to India given foreign LUH deal is already in final stages and HAL LOH is being devloped with vigor. If anything if the HAL LOH project failed more foreign LUHs of the same time earlier bought (most likely Eurocopter) would simply be bought to fill the gap.

sources in Boeing believe the AH-6i could have prospective value for India’s Special Forces and paramilitary. Like its much larger cousin, the AH-64D Apache, the AH-6i Little Bird deploys an impressive arsenal of on-board weapons, including a chain-gun, rocket pods and AGM-114 Hellfire strike missiles.

I think this part explains why it actually has nothing to do with the LUH competition, since it's meant as and armed support helicopter. Most of all we shouldn't get too much in interpretations everytime the US, or anybody else offers us something. They want to make money, we have the biggest arms market of this decade, but that doesn't mean we will buy anything that is available, especially when we already have better options:

Light weight - check!
Very maneuverable - check!
Armed with a gun, rocket pods, ATGMs - check!
Has a FLIR - check!
Able to carry additional forces - check!
Can be used in escort and fire support roles - check!

 

[Abingdonboy]

I think this part explains why it actually has nothing to do with the LUH competition, since it's meant as and armed support helicopter. Most of all we shouldn't get too much in interpretations everytime the US, or anybody else offers us something. They want to make money, we have the biggest arms market of this decade, but that doesn't mean we will buy anything that is available, especially when we already have better options:

Light weight - check!
Very maneuverable - check!
Armed with a gun, rocket pods, ATGMs - check!
Has a FLIR - check!
Able to carry additional forces - check!

Can be used in escort and fire support roles - check!

Oh right, missed that part!



I still think these helos have some utility in India, especially wrt SOFs: