Army’s Night Stalker’s new ‘Little Bird’ officially called the MH-6R

Announced by Janes’ Gareth Jennings, who attended the conference on X, this is interesting news for anyone eagerly awaiting the new “Little Bird” chopper (though we prefer the “Killer Egg” nickname). The planned replacement is part of the US Special Operations Command Mission Enhanced “Little Bird-X” upgrade project.

However, as The War Zone reports, there is uncertainty surrounding the future of these helicopters after the US Army canceled its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Program (FARA). The original plan was to replace about half of the 160th’s “Little Birds” with a special operations version of the final FARA design.

The MH-6 “Little Bird” helicopter is a special operations aircraft predominantly used by the US Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Its primary role is to insert special forces personnel onto rooftops or narrow roadways. The “Little Bird” is based on the McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) MD369 helicopter, and its attack variant, the AH-6, can carry up to three commandos on bench seats fitted onto the side doors of the aircraft.

The “Little Bird” is a venerable aircraft

“Little Bird” helicopters were originally developed as reconnaissance aircraft for the Army’s armored units but have been used almost exclusively by the special operations community since the early 1980s.

The AH-6 “Little Bird Gun” is a light attack helicopter tested and proven in combat. It provides armed helicopter support to ground and air special operations and is equipped with guns, Hellfire missiles, and a 2.75-inch FFAR. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles (463 km), thanks to its single Allison T-63 252 SHP engine.

What was MELB-X is now designated MH-6R by US Army. First of 52 upgraded Little Birds to be rolled out to USSOCOM from FY 2025. #IMH24 pic.twitter.com/Q5qFmpANC2

— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) February 27, 2024

Apart from the announcement about the new designation, Gareth Jennings also pointed out that the first out of 52 MELB-Xs for the “Night Stalkers” will be delivered during the 2025 Fiscal Year.

This upgrade will replace the existing fleet of M variant “Little Birds.” The MELB-X program was initially announced in 2021 by the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which was previously known as Future Little Bird (FLB).

Little is known beyond the name so far

Information regarding the new capabilities and features of the MELB-X upgrade package is currently thin on the ground. It has been discussed in the past that the “Little Bird” could be further improved in its Block IV configuration.

There has also been some discussion about a major engine upgrade, potentially involving a hybrid turbine-electric configuration that could significantly enhance performance and fuel efficiency.

Questions remain regarding how the H-6 series will keep pace with other aviation modernizations and what capabilities the US special operations community might pursue in future major conflicts. Time will tell, of course.