Boeing has successfully conducted the inaugural flight of the first AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopter destined for the Royal Thai Army.
The test flight took place on August 22 at Boeing’s facility in Mesa, Arizona.
This marks the beginning of an order for eight AH-6 helicopters that will form part of Thailand’s military fleet.
Christina Upah, vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs and senior Boeing Mesa site executive, said: “With its superior performance and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment, the Little Bird packs enormous versatility into a small, combat-proven package to get the job done.”
Upah added: “We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army to provide Thailand with these critical defense capabilities, and we look forward to supporting training for the first Thai Little Bird pilots in the near future.”
The procurement of the AH-6 helicopters is part of Thailand’s ongoing efforts to modernise its national defence capabilities and enhance aviation readiness.
Boeing secured the contract for eight Little Birds in February 2022 through a Foreign Military Sales order from the U.S. Department of Defense.
The deal includes spare parts, training devices, support equipment, and technical publications for the Thai customer.
Once the fleet is complete, Boeing will train Royal Thai Army pilots at its Mesa site and at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground.
The training will focus on operating the Little Bird and utilising its versatile mission capabilities.
The AH-6 helicopter features a purpose-built military fuselage, integrated cockpit, and advanced integrated weapons systems.
It has been designed to perform a wide range of missions across various operating environments to meet the needs of global customers.
The successful first flight of Thailand’s AH-6 helicopter represents a significant milestone in the country’s military aviation modernisation efforts.
