Boeing is preparing to halt production of its AH-6i Little Bird light attack helicopter after completing its current contract with the Royal Thai Army. The decision marks the end of Boeing’s involvement in manufacturing the aircraft unless new international buyers emerge.

Boeing’s Decision to End AH-6i Production

The AH-6i Little Bird is widely recognized for its service with the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), also known as the “Night Stalkers.” This elite unit operates the helicopter in both AH-6 light attack and MH-6 assault configurations.

Boeing confirmed its plan to discontinue the AH-6i line at the DefenceIQ International Military Helicopter conference in London. Speaking to Aviation Week, Mark Ballew, Boeing’s director for Vertical-Lift Program Business Development and Strategy, stated:

“We are probably going to cease production on the AH-6i. We will complete production for Thailand, but right now, unless another country immediately commits to purchasing the AH-6, maintaining the supply chain would be challenging and costly.”

AH-6i Little Bird: International Sales & Future Prospects

Despite the Little Bird’s legacy, Boeing has secured only two international buyers for the AH-6i variant:

• Saudi Arabia: Purchased 24 AH-6i helicopters for the Saudi Arabian National Guard in 2014.
• Thailand: The Royal Thai Army ordered eight AH-6i helicopters under a 2022 contract valued at nearly $104 million.

Jordan previously expressed interest in acquiring 18 AH-6i helicopters in 2010, but no deal materialized.

The History & Legacy of the AH-6i

The AH-6i Little Bird is a modernized version of the OH-6 Cayuse, initially developed by Hughes Helicopters in the 1960s. The OH-6 gained fame as a light scout helicopter during the Vietnam War. After multiple acquisitions, Boeing inherited the Little Bird program but later sold most of the Hughes Helicopter product line—except for the AH-64 Apache—to MD Helicopters in 1999.

MD Helicopters has continued producing Hughes Model 500-based helicopters, securing multiple international contracts, including sales of MD-530FU light attack helicopters to the now-defunct Afghan Air Force.

Boeing’s Future Role in Supporting the 160th SOAR

Boeing’s continued involvement in maintaining the 160th SOAR’s Little Bird fleet remains uncertain. The U.S. Army initially planned to replace part of its AH-6/MH-6 fleet with a special operations variant of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. However, following the cancellation of FARA in 2024, the Night Stalkers may seek further upgrades for their existing Little Bird fleet.

Boeing’s Broader Challenges & Program Shifts

Boeing’s decision to shut down Little Bird production comes amid wider restructuring efforts and financial challenges affecting its military and commercial divisions. The company has faced significant delays and losses across key programs, including:

• New Air Force One jets for the U.S. Air Force
• The planned discontinuation of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet production

Unless a major new customer emerges, Boeing’s role in the Little Bird program will come to an end, leaving MD Helicopters as the sole producer of new Little Bird variants.