US Special Forces Helicopter
In 1961, the U.S. Army announced a tender for a light reconnaissance and liaison helicopter under the LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) program. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse won the competition, making its first flight in 1963. Serial production began in 1966, with 1,434 helicopters built in total. McDonnell Douglas later acquired the production rights and began manufacturing its own variant, the MD 500 Defender. One modification, the MD 530MG, became the basis for the MH-6J Little Bird. This helicopter was designed for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), known as the Night Stalkers.
The MH-6J features a single-rotor configuration with a tail rotor, powered by a single turboshaft engine and equipped with skid landing gear. Its aluminum alloy fuselage houses the pilots’ seats in the forward cockpit section. The avionics compartment sits beneath the cockpit floor, while fuel tanks occupy the rear section.
The helicopter can carry cargo weighing up to 900 kilograms. However, the MH-6J Little Bird most commonly transports four troops seated on two special benches mounted on the fuselage sides.
The 160th SOAR frequently deploys these helicopters in special operations worldwide. The MH-6 Little Bird, along with its armed variant the AH-6, has rightfully become one of the calling cards of this legendary military unit.