The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $9,312,900 hybrid contract for post-production support services for the AH-6i light attack / multi-mission helicopter. The Boeing AH-6 is a series of light helicopter gunships based on the MH-6 Little Bird and MD 500 family. Developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, these include the Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) demonstrator, the A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB), and the AH-6i. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 27, 2027. Fiscal 2024 Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia) funds in the amount of $9,312,900 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
The AH-6 light attack / multi-mission helicopter is specifically designed for superior performance and incorporates flexible, easily configurable mission equipment to effectively execute a wide range of missions including light attack, precision attack, anti-armor, close combat attacks, reconnaissance, security and escort, troop insertion and extraction, and combat search and rescue. Leveraging more than 30 years of AH-64 Apache evolution, the AH-6 builds on a proven platform with system improvements to increase mission effectiveness and survivability, making the aircraft a reliable, state-of-the-art platform for multiple missions. It integrates best-in-class capabilities such as an integrated cockpit utilizing commercial off-the-shelf systems, and includes the latest fully integrated weapons, sensor and glass cockpit for precision day and night engagement and reconnaissance.
The AH-6 airframe design inherits a legacy of demonstrated superior survivability and provides maximum crew safety at high payload conditions. The aircraft is designed using a systems approach for crash survivability where the loads experienced by crew members are reduced by a combination of energy absorbing landing gear, airframe structure, crew seats, and crew restraints. Utilizing advanced manufacturing processes, the AH-6 is designed for rapid preparation for flight from its transported configuration with the blades folded and the blade fold kit. A trained ground crew can prepare the AH-6 for flight from transportation configuration within seven minutes. Optimizing readiness of the AH-6 fleet around the globe is one of Boeing’s many missions.
The U.S. Army awarded Boeing a $234 million foreign military sales contract to supply 24 AH-6i light attack / multi-mission helicopters to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Department of Defense announced the contract award on August 29, 2016. The AH-6i was contained in a huge arms deal the U.S. and Saudi Arabian governments negotiated in 2010 that included Boeing F-15 fighters and AH-64D/E Apache attack helicopters and Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters. In early 2012, Boeing said that it expected the Saudi government to sign a letter of offer and acceptance for the AH-6is to equip the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG). A U.S. Army Contracting Command solicitation for maintenance support in March last year stated that the SANG helicopter fleet would consist of 12 AH-64Es, 24 AH-6is and 24 UH-60Ms, stationed at Khashm Al An Airfield, Saudi Arabia.
