Aeronaves y UAV

M/AH-6M Little Bird

Also known as
  • AH-6M
  • MH-6M
  • A/MH-6M
  • AH-6 Little Bird
  • MH-6 Little Bird
  • Little Bird

La familia M/AH-6M Little Bird combina un helicóptero compacto de operaciones especiales con configuraciones de misión armadas y de transporte de tropas: las aeronaves AH-6M proporcionan apoyo aéreo cercano con cañones, cohetes y misiles, mientras que las MH-6M trasladan pequeños equipos de asalto a zonas de aterrizaje confinadas. La historia del Ejército de Estados Unidos documenta AH/MH-6 Little Birds en Somalia y apoyo de AH-6 en la presa de Hadithah en Irak; informes posteriores de fuentes abiertas vincularon los M/AH-6M con un papel de apoyo, con reservas, en el conflicto Estados Unidos-Venezuela de 2026.

M/AH-6M Little Bird, Helicóptero ligero de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: MH-6 Little Bird image

Role in Conflicts

1991 Somali Civil War
Side
Somali government and aligned forces
Role in conflict
Ataque de operaciones especiales y transporte de asalto

En 1993, Task Force Ranger desplegó cuatro helicópteros de ataque AH-6 y cuatro helicópteros de transporte MH-6 en Somalia; ARSOF History describe los AH-6 como Little Birds armados con cohetes y miniguns, y los MH-6 como aeronaves de transporte de asalto equipadas con bancadas.

2026 United States-Venezuela Conflict
Role in conflict
Apoyo aéreo cercano de operaciones especiales y apoyo a inserción

Informes secundarios sobre Operation Absolute Resolve describieron helicópteros Boeing Little Bird M/AH-6M apoyando la fase de extracción y AH-6M probablemente proporcionando escolta cercana para inserciones de MH-6M en Caracas. Otros informes dijeron que solo helicópteros MH-60 y MH-47 estaban confirmados dentro del espacio aéreo venezolano, por lo que la identificación de fuentes abiertas sigue siendo cautelosa.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Helicóptero ligero de operaciones especiales
Service note
Servicio moderno de operaciones especiales del Ejército de Estados Unidos
Designer
Hughes Helicopters; posteriormente linaje McDonnell Douglas/MD Helicopters
Designed
Basado en la familia OH-6/MD 500 Little Bird, con mejoras de operaciones especiales de la serie M

Specifications

Tripulación
2
Velocidad
143 mph
Alcance
250 millas
Dimensiones
32,05 ft de longitud; 27,5 ft de diámetro de rotor; 8 ft 11 in de altura
Armamento del AH-6M
Cañones GAU-19 o M134, pods de cohetes M260 o MJ-12, misiles guiados antitanque o dos misiles AGM-114 Hellfire
Carga útil del MH-6M
Hasta seis miembros de personal externamente
Mission Configurations

El papel del Little Bird en el catálogo depende de la configuración de misión: el AH-6M lleva armas para escolta y apoyo cercano, mientras que el MH-6M reduce el énfasis en armas para transporte de asalto compacto en zonas de aterrizaje confinadas.

ConfiguraciónPapel principalEquipo documentado
AH-6MApoyo aéreo cercano, reconocimiento armado, escoltaCañones GAU-19 o M134, pods de cohetes de 2,75 pulgadas, misiles guiados antitanque y opciones AGM-114 Hellfire.
MH-6MTransporte de asalto de operaciones especialesConfiguración de transporte de personal para hasta seis tropas llevadas externamente, coherente con el concepto de asalto en bancadas del Little Bird descrito en la historia de ARSOF de la era de Somalia.
Uso de la familia AH/MHPaquete combinado de ataque y transporteTask Force Ranger usó helicópteros de ataque AH-6 y de transporte MH-6 en Somalia, mientras que AH-6 del 160th SOAR proporcionaron apoyo armado durante la operación de la presa de Hadithah en Irak.

Fuentes: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book; ARSOF Somalia TF Ranger Little Birds; ARSOF Hadithah Dam Little Bird Support.

Variants

El registro cubre la familia Little Bird de operaciones especiales de Estados Unidos en torno a la división de la serie M entre las configuraciones de misión AH-6M armada y MH-6M de transporte de asalto.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
AH-6M Little BirdConfiguración de ataque armado y escolta

USSOCOM lista el AH-6M para apoyo aéreo cercano y reconocimiento armado con opciones de cañón, cohete, misil antitanque y Hellfire.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book

MH-6M Little BirdConfiguración de transporte de asalto para operaciones especiales

USSOCOM identifica el MH-6M como la configuración Little Bird para transporte de personal, y ARSOF History describe la disposición anterior del MH-6 con bancadas para transportar seis miembros de asalto.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book, ARSOF Somalia TF Ranger Little Birds

Armamento transportado

USSOCOM y la historia de operaciones especiales del Ejército de Estados Unidos describen configuraciones armadas del Little Bird basadas en cañones rotativos, cohetes de 2,75 pulgadas y opciones de misiles.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
M134 Minigun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry WeaponsM134 MinigunCañón rotativo de 7,62 mm

USSOCOM lista cañones M134 para el AH-6M, y ARSOF History describe Little Birds en Somalia e Irak usando miniguns de 7,62 mm.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book, ARSOF Somalia TF Ranger Little Birds, ARSOF Hadithah Dam Little Bird Support

GAU-19 machine gun, .50 caliber rotary heavy machine gun, Infantry WeaponsGAU-19 machine gunCañón rotativo de calibre .50

USSOCOM lista cañones GAU-19 entre las opciones de armamento del AH-6M.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book

Hydra-70 rocket system, 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsHydra-70 rocket systemFamilia de cohetes aire-superficie de 2,75 pulgadas

El conjunto de armamento del AH-6M incluye pods de cohetes de 2,75 pulgadas, y ARSOF History documenta AH-6 Little Birds disparando cohetes de 2,75 pulgadas en la presa de Hadithah.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book, ARSOF Hadithah Dam Little Bird Support

AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyOpción de misil aire-superficie

USSOCOM lista dos misiles AGM-114 Hellfire entre las opciones de armamento del AH-6M.

Sources: 2026 USSOCOM Fact Book

Timeline

M/AH-6M Little Bird Key Events

  1. Los Little Birds de Task Force Ranger combaten en Mogadiscio

    ARSOF History describe el destacamento del 160th SOAR de Task Force Ranger en Somalia como integrado por cuatro AH-6 y cuatro MH-6 Little Birds durante la batalla de Mogadiscio del 3-4 de octubre de 1993.

    Sources: ARSOF Somalia TF Ranger Little Birds

  2. Los AH-6 apoyan el asalto a la presa de Hadithah

    La historia de operaciones especiales del Ejército de Estados Unidos registra AH-6 Little Birds del 160th SOAR proporcionando reconocimiento y apoyo aéreo cercano para los Rangers que tomaban la presa de Hadithah en Irak.

    Sources: ARSOF Hadithah Dam Little Bird Support

Media

M/AH-6M Little Bird Images

M/AH-6M Little Bird, Helicóptero ligero de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: MH-6 Little Bird image
M/AH-6M Little Bird, Helicóptero ligero de operaciones especiales, Aeronaves y UAV - view 2
Source: AH-6J Little Bird image
Related Weapon Systems
MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator, Special operations gunship helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMH-60L Direct Action PenetratorSpecial operations gunship helicopterThe MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator is a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment gunship conversion of the UH-60L/MH-60 Black Hawk, trading troop-carrying capacity for modular cannons, rockets, guided missiles, sensors, and night-raid support. Venezuela conflict reporting documents DAP Black Hawks in U.S. special operations use, while also noting that current operational DAPs are MH-60M airframes derived from the same mission configuration.
AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAH-64 Apache attack helicopterTwin-engine attack helicopterThe AH-64 Apache is a U.S. twin-engine attack helicopter family designed by Hughes Helicopters and continued through McDonnell Douglas and Boeing production. Built around a two-person crew, nose-mounted sensors, a 30 mm chain gun, rockets, and guided missiles, it has direct source-backed combat use from Desert Storm and Iraq to Afghanistan, Sinai, Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, anti-ISIS operations, and recent U.S. operations against Iran.
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, Multi-mission maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMH-60S Sea Hawk helicopterMulti-mission maritime helicopterThe MH-60S Sea Hawk is a U.S. Navy multi-mission helicopter derived from the Black Hawk/Seahawk family for shipboard logistics, search and rescue, special warfare support, mine-countermeasures, and armed maritime missions. NAVAIR describes the aircraft as sharing the MH-60R common cockpit while replacing legacy H-46D, H-3, and HH-1N roles; during Operation Epic Fury in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict, MH-60S aircraft were documented aboard USS Abraham Lincoln handling flight-deck movements, cargo transport, and at-sea support.
Black Hawk helicopter, Medium-lift military utility helicopter family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsBlack Hawk helicopterMedium-lift military utility helicopter familyThe Black Hawk is Sikorsky's twin-engine medium-lift military utility helicopter family, developed from the U.S. Army's 1972 UTTAS requirement and fielded from 1978-79. The cataloged family covers utility, special-operations, armed, and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue variants, with directly documented use from the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu to NATO combat search and rescue over Kosovo, U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Black Hawk missions during the Russia-Ukraine war.
AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAC-130 gunshipHeavily armed fixed-wing gunshipThe AC-130 gunship is a side-firing C-130 derivative built for persistent close air support, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, and special-operations overwatch. Modern AC-130U, AC-130W, and AC-130J aircraft pair trainable cannon armament with electro-optical/infrared sensors, fire-control systems, communications suites, and standoff precision munitions so crews can support ground forces from extended loiter or overwatch positions.
AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAH-64E Apache attack helicopterTwin-engine attack helicopterThe AH-64E Apache is Boeing's Echo-model Apache variant, developed from the AH-64D Block III remanufacture program and built around improved engines, sensors, networking, and a two-person attack-helicopter weapons station. Direct source-backed conflict records place AH-64E aircraft with U.S. Army units in Operation Inherent Resolve, the 2001 War in Afghanistan's Operation Freedom's Sentinel phase, and Operation Epic Fury during the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict.

Sources

2026 USSOCOM Fact BookPublisher: U.S. Special Operations Command | Note: Supports AH-6M and MH-6M specifications, primary functions, crew, speed, range, armament, and payload. | Accessed: 2026-06-29AH-6 Little BirdPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports manufacturer and background context for the AH-6 light attack, multimission, reconnaissance, escort, insertion, extraction, and rapid reconfiguration mission set. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ARSOF Hadithah Dam Little Bird SupportPublisher: U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct use by 160th SOAR AH-6 Little Birds during the April 1, 2003 Hadithah Dam operation, including reconnaissance, close air support, and firing of miniguns, .50 caliber rounds, and 2.75-inch rockets. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ARSOF Somalia TF Ranger Little BirdsPublisher: U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office | Note: Supports 1991 Somali Civil War direct use by U.S. Task Force Ranger, including four AH-6 attack Little Birds, four MH-6 lift Little Birds, AH-6 rocket and minigun armament, and MH-6 external assault benches. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Venezuela Attack and the Primacy of the US AirpowerPublisher: Global Defense Insight | Note: Supports 2026 United States-Venezuela Conflict reporting that Boeing Little Bird M/AH-6M helicopters were fielded by U.S. forces to support the extraction phase of Operation Absolute Resolve. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Inside U.S. Special Forces Helicopter Fleet Used for Mission to Capture Venezuela's President MaduroPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports 2026 United States-Venezuela Conflict reporting that AH-6Ms were likely used by U.S. forces for close escort and localized fire support around Caracas. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Why Stealth Black Hawks Weren't Used For Maduro Capture MissionPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports the sourcing caveat for the 2026 United States-Venezuela Conflict by reporting that only MH-60 and MH-47 helicopters were confirmed in Venezuelan airspace and that Little Birds did not appear to be present. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MH-6 Little Bird imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for the primary Little Bird image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MH-6M fast-rope training imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for an MH-6M Little Bird fast-rope training image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29AH-6J Little Bird imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a Little Bird operational image from the same aircraft family. | Accessed: 2026-06-29