Military Videos

Boeing's Unmanned Little Bird H-6U is neither your average rotorcraft nor your average unmanned airborne system (UAS). Unlike a traditional helicopter, it can fly without a pilot in the cockpit. And, contrary to its name, Unmanned Little Bird can be flown either fully or partially manned, making it an ideal platform to train users and flight-test UAS technologies.

See how innovative Boeing engineers took the ultra-flexible Unmanned Little Bird to a whole new level of capability by turning the proven multi-role helicopter into an optionally-manned air vehicle.

After more than 50 years of service to the U.S. Marine Corps, the CH-46 Sea Knight, affectionately known as the "Phrog," jumped into the history books Aug. 1, with a final flight to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center. Now HMM-774, the last operational CH-46 squadron, prepares for its future aboard the MV-22 Osprey. The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter powered by twin turboshaft aircraft engines. It was used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment until it was replaced by the MV-22 Osprey. Additional tasks included combat support, search and rescue (SAR), support for forward refueling and rearming points, CASEVAC and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The Sea Knight was also the United States Navy's standard medium-lift utility helicopter until it was phased out in favor o...

Helibras and Airbus Helicopters have opened a new chapter in the history of the H225M multirole utility helicopter with the official presentation of the first aircraft in naval combat configuration. Developed and assembled locally by Helibras, Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary in Brazil, this new H225M version is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the Brazilian Navy, with mission capabilities including anti-surface warfare and maritime surveillance. This evolution of the H225M is built around a Helibras-developed tactical mission system including an APS-143 surveillance radar, advanced self-protection systems as well as signals intelligence capabilities. The helicopter is also equipped with two AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, while the cargo bay accommodates a dedicated sensor operator console providing the mission commander with an overview of the tactical situation. An automatic identification system (AIS) will also allow crew members to gather information on surface ...

Sikorsky's first CH-53K King Stallion has achieved speeds of 120kt (222km/h) as the heavy-lift helicopter development project presses forward with flight envelope expansion and adds a second test aircraft to the effort. The Lockheed Martin-owned rotorcraft manufacturer says its second three-engined prototype achieved flight on 22 January, and the two developmental aircraft have logged 35h since CH-53K flights began on 27 October 2015. Operating from Sikorsky’s flight-test centre in West Palm Beach, Florida, the first engineering development model (EDM) recently achieved 120kt, just 21kt shy of its advertised speed of 141kt. The programme, which entered development in October 2005, will deliver 200 "super-heavy-lift" helicopters to the US Marine Corps as a replacement for the CH-53E Super Stallion, which the service plans to phase out by 2027. Powered by three General Electric Aviation T408-400 turboshaft engines, the King Stallion will introduce fly-b...

A daily workhorse with an expansive cabin providing multi-mission flexibility. The Bell Huey II Modernization Program is the only OEM approved and supported Bell UH-1H performance upgrade available today. The Bell Huey II combines commercial Bell 212 dynamic components with the reliable Honeywell T53-L-703 engine, leading to an increase in hover performance in hot conditions. In addition, the Bell Huey II upgrade increases the max gross weight to 10,500 lbs, while lowering direct operating costs. Along with the Bell Huey II kit installation, Bell Helicopter refurbishes the Bell UH-1H basic airframe to OEM standards, provides a complete rewire, updates the avionics and offers a comprehensive selection of mission specific kits and customization. So whether your mission is troop transport into high altitudes, medical evacuation in hot conditions or transport to and from remote bases, choose the Bell Huey II.

In 2013, CV-22 Osprey pilot Air Force Major Brett Cassidy was flying lead on a three-aircraft rescue mission to the U.N. compound in Bor, South Sudan. Upon final approach for landing, the three CV-22s took heavy fire – including rocket-propelled grenade fire from ground forces. The Ospreys were severely damaged, and special operators on board were seriously wounded. Maj. Cassidy’s plane, tail number 42, was fully repaired and sent back into service. After another full tour of duty, #42 returned to Hurlburt Field, Fla. for general maintenance. Maj. Cassidy was on hand to see his CV-22 again, and retell the story of their mission. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. The V-22 originated f...

The Bell 412 is a twin-engine utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212s being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two blade rotor. A Bell 412 prototype first flew in August 1979. The initial model was certified in January 1981 with the deliveries commencing in the same month. The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version featuring larger fuel capacity, higher takeoff weight and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production.[1] The current production version, 412EP (Enhanced Performance), is equipped with a dual digital automatic flight control system. In 2013 Bell introduced the 412EPI which includ...

The Boeing-built Apache attack helicopter is a mighty aircraft, but its most recent milestone -- surpassing 3.5 million flight hours -- proves it's as dependable as it is fierce. The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American four-blade, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability. The Apache originally started as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra. The prototype YAH-64 ...

Boeing adds control of unmanned aircraft to the Apache helicopter's impressive capabilities. Using "eye-in-the-sky" technology, the Apache Guardian, the world's most advanced combat helicopter, is now even more effective in keeping soldiers safe. The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American four-blade, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability. The Apache originally started as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's A...

The H-1 upgrade program is the United States Marine Corps's program to develop the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom military helicopters to replace its aging fleets of AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1N Twin Hueys. The contract was awarded in 1996 to Bell Helicopter, the original manufacturer of both aircraft, to design the new airframes as modernized attack and utility helicopters with considerable design commonality, to reduce operating costs. The AH-1Z and UH-1Y share a common tail boom, engines, rotor system, drive train, avionics architecture, software, controls and displays for over 84% identical components.[28][29] Both aircraft use twin General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft outputting 1,800 shp (1,350 kW) each. Upgrades will also be made to the transmission (rated for 2,350 hp (1,750 kW)) and skid landing gear. The existing two-bladed semi-rigid, teetering rotor system is being replaced with a four-bladed, hingeless, bearingless composite rotor system. The improvement in fl...

The Bell UH-1Y Venom (also called Super Huey) is a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter, built by Bell Helicopter under the H-1 upgrade program of the United States Marine Corps. One of the latest members of the numerous Huey family, the UH-1Y is called also Yankee, from its variant letter. After entering service in 2008, the UH-1Y is currently in full-rate production to replace the USMC's aging fleet of UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters first introduced in the early 1970s. The UH-1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH-1Ns, but in 2005, it was approved for the aircraft to be built as new. The UH-1Y variant modernizes the UH-1 design. Its most noticeable upgrade over previous variants is a four-blade, all-composite rotor system designed to withstand up to 23 mm rounds. A 21-inch (530 mm) insert just forward of the main door has been installed for more capacity. The UH-1Y features upgraded engines and transmission, a digital cockpit with flat panel multif...

The UH-1Y and AH-1Z, also known as Yankee and Zulu are combat proven, advanced utility and attack helicopters. The aircraft have 85% commonality with identical components, designed for lower maintenance support requirements and cost. Both aircraft are easily reconfigurable for a wide array of your missions, and provide new expeditionary airframes and state of the art sensors.  Top key features of both aircraft:  - Fully integrated , night vision goggle compatible glass cockpits  - Can operate in the most extreme environments, from Arctic cold to desert heat - Back by the OEM with the most combat flight hours in the world

CW5 Ken Jones has achieved what no other Apache pilot has to date: 10,000 hours flying Apaches (including 2,270 combat hours). As an Apache instructor, he's trained hundreds of soldiers who have gone on to serve all over the world. Jones also works as a High Altitude Training Site instructor for flying in mountainous regions.