Thailand’s order for 8 Boeing AH-6i light attack helicopter confirmed

The AH-6 light attack helicopter. Photo c/o Boeing.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded a contract worth US$103.7 million to American aerospace giant Boeing for the supply and delivery of AH-6i light attack helicopters.

These helicopters are earmarked for the Royal Thai Army (RTA), which requested 8 units under a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Works will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by 30 May 2025.

In 2019, the US State Department approved the sale of 8 AH-6i helicopters to Thailand, which will replace the RTA’s fleet of 7 Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters.

Also requested were AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and M299 Hellfire launchers, M260 rocket launchers, and the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets.

The AH-6i is described by Boeing as a highly capable light attack and reconnaissance helicopter specifically designed with superior performance characteristics and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment ideal for Light Attack, Precision Attack, Anti-Armor, Close Combat Attack, Reconnaissance, Security & Escort, Troop Insertion and Extraction, and Combat Search and Rescue.

It is based on the MD-500 family of light military helicopters, with improvements in overall performance and capability.




[1] US Department of Defense
[2] Army Technology
[3] Australian Defence Magazine