A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird

The A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird or MELB is an unmanned aerial vehicle helicopter developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems (BRS). It is based on the Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator (ULB) which Boeing built from a civilian MD 530F. [http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2006/q2/060412a_nr.html "Boeing Apache and Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator Test Expands UAV Control", Boeing news release, April 12, 2006, accessed August 27, 2008] ] [http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2006/q4/061009b_nr.html "Boeing Manned/Unmanned Light Helicopter Makes First Flight", Boeing news release, October 9, 2006, accessed August 27, 2008] ]

Development

The ULB Demonstrator first flew on September 8, 2004, and made its first autonomous flight (with safety pilot) on October 16, 2004. [http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2004/q4/nr_041025m.html "Boeing Unveils Low-Cost, Versatile 'Little Bird' That Can Fly Manned or as UAV" Boeing news release, October 25, 2004, accessed August 27, 2008] ]

The ULB Demonstrator first flew in the unmanned mode on June 30, 2006 from the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground, flying a pre-programmed 20-minute armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance mission around the facility. All previous flights during the 450 flight hour engineering development phase had a safety pilot on board, although the aircraft was typically flown remotely from the ground. [http://www.boeing.com/ids/news/2006/q3/060712c_nr.html "Boeing Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator Helicopter Flies Unmanned for First Time", Boeing news release, July 12, 2006, accessed August 27, 2008] ] [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2005/01/31/story3.html Kress, Adam "Boeing's Little Bird flys high by remote control", "Phoenix Business Journal", January 28, 2005, accessed August 27, 2008] ]

In April, 2006, Boeing used the ULB to demonstrate the ability of another helicopter, in this case an AH-64 Apache to remotely control the ULB's weapons payload as a part of Boeing's Airborne Manned/Unmanned System Technology Demonstration (AMUST-D) program. For the initial test, the Apache Longbow was on the ground, while the ULB was airborne several miles away and Hellfire missiles were fired from the ULB by a tester sitting at the co-pilot's station in the Apache. Both aircraft are equipped with tactical common data link equipment and technologies manufactured by L-3 Communications.

With the successes of the ULB, BRS incorprated its technologies into an A/MH-6, designating it the A/MH-6X. On September 20, 2006, the first A/MH-6X lifted off on its maiden flight from BRS' Mesa, Arizona facility with a pilot onboard. While the ULB Demonstrator had a payload of 2,400 pounds, the MELB has an additional 1,000 pounds payload capacity. The A/MH-6X is similar to the A/MH-6M, but includes a prototype glass cockpit and a number of upgrades to the electronics and avionics.

Boeing, which has funded the development program itself, intends to market the aircraft for both military and homeland security roles within the U.S. and internationally. The aircraft is estimated to cost US$2 million.

The systems related to the unmanned flight capabilities have also be designed to be able to be installed in any other helicopter as well, including the Apache.

pecifications

ULB/MD530F

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop
ref=The International Directory of Civil Aircraft.Frawley, Gerard: "The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004", page 155. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7]
crew= 1-2
capacity=5 total
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 32 ft 7 in
length alt= 9.94 m
span main= 27 ft 4 in
span alt= 8.33 m
height main= 8 ft 9 in
height alt= 2.48 m
area main= 587.5 sq ft
area alt= 54.6 sq m
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,591 lb
empty weight alt= 722 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 3,100 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1,610 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= One Allison 250-C30
type of prop= Turboshaft
number of props= 1
power main= 375 hp
power alt= 280 kW
power original=

max speed main= 152 knots
max speed alt= 175 mph, 282 km/h
cruise speed main= 135 kn
cruise speed alt= 155 mph, 250 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 232 nmi
range alt= 267 mi, 430 km
ceiling main= 18,700 ft
ceiling alt= 5,700 m
climb rate main= 2,070 ft/min
climb rate alt= 10.5 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* OH-6 Cayuse
* MD Helicopters MD 500
* MD 500 Defender
* MH-6 Little Bird

similar aircraft=
* OH-58 Kiowa
* Bell ARH-70
* PZL SW-4
* Mil Mi-34
* MQ-8 Fire Scout
* Boeing A160 Hummingbird

lists=

see also=
* U.S. Helicopter Armament Subsystems

References