Naval Air: Robotic Little Bird Goes To Sea

Archives

August 21, 2012: The UAV version of the MH-6 ("little bird") light helicopter has been modified to operate from ships. Recently this version (H-6U) successfully tested an automatic landing system that enables helicopter UAV to land and take off from a ship. The MH-6 has been in military service for nearly half a century. The MH-6X ("Unmanned Little Bird") is a UAV version that has been in development for over eight years.

More widely known as the civilian MD-530F, SOCOM uses the MH-6 for scouting and commando operations. The MH-6X is a 1.6 ton aircraft that, in UAV mode, can be used for scouting or delivering cargo. Still classified as a "demonstrator", Unmanned Little Bird can carry a one ton payload. This can be supplies, weapons, or sensors. The manned MH-6 stays aloft about 90 minutes per sortie but the MH-6X can, by carrying more fuel and no people, extend that to 120 minutes.

There's already a lot of competition out there for helicopter UAVs. The 1.5 ton A160T, 1.4 ton Fire Scout, and .2 ton S-100 are already in service. The Fire Scout and S-100 have earlier been equipped to operate from ships.

 

 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close