AH-6 Little Bird vs NH90 / Caiman

Overview

The AH-6 Little Bird and the NH90 / Caiman are both Military Helicopters, manufactured by Boeing and NHIndustries respectively.

Top speed is 282 km/h for the AH-6 Little Bird vs 300 km/h for the NH90 / Caiman. The AH-6 Little Bird has an operational range of 430 km vs 880 km for the NH90 / Caiman. The NH90 / Caiman operates at altitudes up to 6,000 m compared to 4,877 m for the AH-6 Little Bird. At 10,600 kg MTOW, the NH90 / Caiman is 6.6x the AH-6 Little Bird's 1,610 kg.

The AH-6 Little Bird has been produced in 1,420 units vs 471 for the NH90 / Caiman. Unit cost is $7.5M for the AH-6 Little Bird vs $42M for the NH90 / Caiman. The AH-6 Little Bird first flew 32 years before the NH90 / Caiman (1963 vs 1995).

AH-6 Little Bird

American light attack helicopter, best recognized for deployment in special operations during conflicts like the Iraq War.
Boeing AH-6 Little Bird Helicopter profile drawing
Origin country 🇺🇸 United States
Category Military Helicopters
Manufacturer Boeing
First flight 27 February 1963
Year introduced 1980
Number produced 1420 units
Average unit price $7.5 million
→ View full AH-6 Little Bird details

NH90 / Caiman

European multinational medium-sized military helicopter, known for deployment in various peace-keeping and combat missions since the 1990s.
NHIndustries NH90 / Caiman Helicopter profile drawing
Origin country 🇩🇪 Germany 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇱 Netherlands
Category Military Helicopters
Manufacturer NHIndustries
First flight 18 December 1995
Year introduced 2004
Number produced 471 units
Average unit price $42 million
→ View full NH90 / Caiman details

AH-6 Little Bird

Wingspan 8.4 m ◉
Height 2.6 m ◉
Length 9.2 m ◉
Maximum speed 282 km/h ◉
Operational range 430 km ◉
Service ceiling 4,877 m ◉
Max. takeoff weight 1,610 kg ◉
Empty weight 896 kg ◉
Total thrust 1 x 239 kW ◉

NH90 / Caiman

Wingspan 16.3 m ◉
Height 5.3 m ◉
Length 19.6 m ◉
Maximum speed 300 km/h ◉
Operational range 880 km ◉
Service ceiling 6,000 m ◉
Max. takeoff weight 10,600 kg ◉
Empty weight 6,400 kg ◉
Total thrust 2 x 847 kW ◉

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman is faster with a maximum speed of 300 km/h compared to the AH-6 Little Bird's 282 km/h, a difference of 18 km/h.
Which has longer range, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman has a longer range at 880 km compared to the AH-6 Little Bird's 430 km.
Which can fly higher, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman has a higher service ceiling at 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) compared to the AH-6 Little Bird's 4,877 meters (16,000 ft).
Which is heavier, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman has a higher maximum takeoff weight at 10,600 kg compared to the AH-6 Little Bird's 1,610 kg.
Which is larger, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman is longer at 19.6 meters compared to the AH-6 Little Bird's 9.2 meters.
Which is more expensive, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The NH90 / Caiman is more expensive at approximately $42 million per unit compared to the AH-6 Little Bird at $7.5 million.
Which entered service first, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The AH-6 Little Bird entered service first in 1980, 24 years before the NH90 / Caiman which entered service in 2004.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the AH-6 Little Bird or NH90 / Caiman?
The AH-6 Little Bird has been produced in greater numbers with 1,420 units compared to 471 units of the NH90 / Caiman.

Related Comparisons

NH90 / Caiman vs Mi-8 Hip AH-6 Little Bird vs Mi-8 Hip AH-6 Little Bird vs UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" AH-6 Little Bird vs Mi-17 Hip-H AH-6 Little Bird vs 206 JetRanger AH-6 Little Bird vs Bell 47
2025 GlobalMilitary.net • About • Privacy • Terms • Dark theme