Would the H-6 make a good, low cost, helicopter for force protection?

On Thu, 13 May 2004 03:22:27 GMT, R. David Steele
/OMEGA wrote:

Does anyone know much about the MH-6J Little Bird? It seems to
be a very low cost (about a 10th of what an Apache costs)
helicopter. Given our problems in Iraq, we need an affordable
airframe that we can buy in numbers so that we can provide
coverage to convoys and such.

Plus, from what I have heard, this bird is far more quite than
any of our other craft.


A Little Bird variant is being talked about in wake of the
cancellation of the Comanche. It could be that a significant
number of LBs (300+) suddenly get contracted for. I've also recently
seen an article which talked about a possibility of special ops
aviation going to 3 regiments versus 1, which will mean additional LBs
if that goes through.

The LBs are very quiet - the OH-6A was quiet, and the LB derivatives
(500MD and 530FF) with more rotor blades (5 or 6 depending on model)
have been even quieter. On the minus side they don't have a large load
capability, little room internally, and they have a relatively short
range. They also have little in self-protection equipment.

John Hairell )