24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Introduced less than five years ago, the fastest helicopter on this list flies at a stunning 265 mph.
- Some attack helicopters can launch anti-ship missiles, making them a threat to enemy naval vessels.
- Modern gunship helicopters serve multiple roles from transporting troops to aiding in combat.
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As the Russia-Ukraine war wages on, both countries are searching for new ways to gain power and expand territory. Military technologies have played an important role in each country’s strategic moves. Recently, Ukraine used a military gunship helicopter to shoot down a Russian Shahed kamikaze drone. While Russian forces just launched a drone attack on Ukraine, leading to seven deaths and 50 injuries, Ukraine has seemed to have the upper hand in recent battles. Ukraine has even overtaken part of Russia’s Kursk region. (What actually led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?)
Helicopter gunships play an important role in military combat since they are sometimes equated to flying tanks with comparable firepower. They can carry troops, ordnance, and sometimes vehicles while protecting their cargo with some heavy arms. Gunship helicopters, or helicopters with guns that can be used for aerial support, have transformed a long way from when helicopters were first used during the Korean War. These gunship helicopters hold significant weaponry and allow for countries to highlight their air supremacy and power. Today, these helicopters use cutting-edge technologies and can be deployed in multiple capacities.
To identify gunship helicopters of the modern age, 24/7 Was St. reviewed a catalog of military helicopters from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. These helicopters are listed chronologically and provide additional information about their type, year introduced, country of origin, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.
Why Are We Writing About Helicopters?
Helicopters perform an important role in civilized society as a means of rapid transportation from unique spaces and places. They are often used to rescue injured hikers in deep ravines, or sailors lost at sea. If you have traveled an interstate regularly, you may have witnessed a “life-flight” after a particularly tragic vehicle accident.
On the other hand, helicopters have been instrumental in combat and defense against enemies of war. These aircraft played a key role in transportation, airlifting injured, and fighting battles in Vietnam (South Vietnam lacked the infrastructure needed for appropriate ground transportation). And while the outcome was still not great, it is argued that it could have been much worse without the helicopter. Gunship helicopters are also a product of a combined effort of basic aerodynamics and ever-growing and changing technology. Helicopters are an evolving piece of equipment, stream-lined to perform at its best. Understanding what gunship helicopters are used in the modern era shows changing priorities and improving technologies.
Here is a look at the gunship helicopters of the modern era.
41. H-19 Chickasaw
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1950
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Multirole transport utility
- Weaponry: Rocket pods, 12.7mm heavy machine guns, 7.62mm medium machine guns
- Top Speed: 101 mph
40. Mil Mi-4 (Hound)
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Year: 1953
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
- Role: Multirole utility
- Weaponry: Rocket pods, conventional drop bombs
- Top Speed: 115 mph
39. H-21 Workhorse
- Manufacturer: Piasecki Helicopter / Boeing
- Year: 1953
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Tandem-rotor transport
- Weaponry: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns
- Top Speed: 127 mph
38. H-34 / CH-34 Choctaw
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1954
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Close-support/transport
- Weaponry: 7.62mm M60C general-purpose machine guns, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 173 mph
37. Alouette II
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale
- Year: 1957
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Light utility
- Weaponry: Anti-tank guided missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes
- Top Speed: 115 mph
36. UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 1959
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Multirole/utility/attack/transport
- Weaponry: Mk 44/46 torpedoes, rocket pods, air-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles, automatic cannons, 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm GAU miniguns
- Top Speed: 137 mph
35. Alouette III
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale
- Year: 1960
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Multirole
- Weaponry: 20mm cannon, 7.62mm machine gun, AS.11 anti-tank missiles, Mk 44 torpedoes
- Top Speed: 130 mph
34. SH-3 Sea King
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1961
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Anti-submarine warfare
- Weaponry: Mk 44 / 46 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, depth charges, 7.62mm machine guns
- Top Speed: 166 mph
33. UH-1B/C Huey Cobra / Frog
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 1962
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Gunship
- Weaponry: .30 caliber machine guns, miniguns, rocket pods, 40mm automatic grenade launcher
- Top Speed: 95 mph
32. Model 207 (Sioux Scout)
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 1963
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Light-armed scout
- Weaponry: 7.62mm M60 machine guns, SS 10 anti-tank guided missiles, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 109 mph
31. Z-5
- Manufacturer: Harbin
- Year: 1965
- Country of Origin: China
- Role: Transport/utility
- Weaponry: Machine guns, machine gun pods, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 130 mph
30. Mil Mi-2 (Hoplite)
- Manufacturer: Mil Helicopter Plant
- Year: 124 mph
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
- Role: Light utility
- Weaponry: 23mm automatic cannons, rocket pods, anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles
- Top Speed: 124 mph
29. Mil Mi-8 (Hip)
![Mil Mi-8 Hip [unmarked] by Alan Wilson](https://a673b.bigscoots-temp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/imageForEntry13-Dyb.jpg "Mil Mi-8 Hip [unmarked] by Alan Wilson")
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant / Russian Helicopters
- Year: 1967
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
- Role: 1967
- Weaponry: Rocket pods, Swatter missiles, Sagger missiles, Phalanga missiles, 12.7mm machine gun, cannon pods
- Top Speed: 162 mph
28. Model 212
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 1968
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Medium-lift utility/transport
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 140 mph
27. SA 330 Puma
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale
- Year: 1969
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Transport/assault
- Weaponry: Machine gun pods, cannon pods
- Top Speed: 170 mph
26. Bo 105 (MBB)
- Manufacturer: Airbus Helicopters
- Year: 1970
- Country of Origin: Germany
- Role: Light utility
- Weaponry: HOT/HOT2 anti-tank missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles
- Top Speed: 152 mph
25. SA342 Gazelle
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale
- Year: 1973
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Lightweight multirole
- Weaponry: HOT anti-tank missiles, Mastra Mistal missiles, rocket pods, 20mm GIAT autocannon, 7.62mm machine guns
- Top Speed: 165 mph
24. Mil Mi-24 (Hind)
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Year: 1973
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
- Role: Armed assault gunship/attack
- Weaponry: 12.7mm machine guns, 23mm/30mm cannons, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket pods, machine gun pods, cannon pods, conventional drop bombs
- Top Speed: 208 mph
23. AW109
- Manufacturer: Leonardo
- Year: 1976
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Role: Multirole utility
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm machine guns, TOW anti-tank missiles, machine gun pods, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 177 mph
22. S-76
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1977
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: Machine gun pods, cannon pods, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 180 mph
21. AW159 (Lynx / Super Lynx)
- Manufacturer: Leonardo-Finmeccanica
- Year: 1978
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
- Role: Multirole
- Weaponry: TOW anti-tank guided missiles, rocket pods, 20mm automatic cannon, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, 7.62mm general purpose machine guns
- Top Speed: 158 mph
20. UH-60 Black Hawk
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1979
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: 7.62mm medium machine guns, Hellfire missiles, GAU-19 12.7mm Gatling guns, M134D Gatling guns, FFAR rocket pods
- Top Speed: 183 mph
19. Mil Mi-17 (Hip-H)
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant / Russian Helicopters
- Year: 1981
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
- Role: Medium-lift transport/gunship
- Weaponry: 23mm cannon pods, Shturm-V missiles, rocket pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods
- Top Speed: 158 mph
18. AS532 (Super Puma / Cougar)
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale / Airbus Helicopters
- Year: 1982
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: Air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, 7.62mm gun pods, AM 39 Exocet anti-ship missiles
- Top Speed: 170 mph
17. AS565 Panther
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale
- Year: 1985
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Multirole
- Weaponry: GIAT M621 20mm automatic cannon, rocket pods, AS 15 anti-ship missiles, HOT anti-tank missiles, 20mm cabin-mounted cannons, Mk 46 torpedoes
- Top Speed: 190 mph
16. PZL W-3 Sokol
- Manufacturer: PZL-Swidnik
- Year: 1985
- Country of Origin: Poland
- Role: Multirole
- Weaponry: 23mm autocannon, rocket pods, missiles, cannon pods, 12.7mm machine guns
- Top Speed: 162 mph
15. H125 Fennec (AS550)
- Manufacturer: Aerospatiale / Airbus Helicopters
- Year: 1990
- Country of Origin: France
- Role: Light utility
- Weaponry: 20mm GIAT M621 automatic cannon, 12.7mm machine gun pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods, rocket pods, TOW anti-tank missiles
- Top Speed: 152 mph
14. MH-60L DAP
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Year: 1990
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Special Forces
- Weaponry: 30mm M230 chain gun, Hydra rocket pods, GAU-19 gun pods, M134 minigun pods, Hellfire missiles, Stinger missiles
- Top Speed: 103 mph
13. Z-9 (Haitun)
- Manufacturer: Harbin
- Year: 1994
- Country of Origin: China
- Role: Medium-lift transport/gunship
- Weaponry: Air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, cannon pods, rocket pods, machine gun pods
- Top Speed: 190 mph
12. CH-146 Griffon
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 1995
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Role: Multirole utility
- Weaponry: 7.62mm C6 machine guns, 7.62mm Dillon Aero M134D miniguns
- Top Speed: 162 mph
11. Z-11
- Manufacturer: Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
- Year: 1998
- Country of Origin: China
- Role: Multirole light utility/attack
- Weaponry: CS/LM12 minigun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, machine gun pods, air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs
- Top Speed: 173 mph
10. AW101 Merlin (EH101)
- Manufacturer: Leonardo
- Year: 1999
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, rocket pods, depth charges
- Top Speed: 192 mph
9. Dhruv (Polaris)
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautical Limited
- Year: 2002
- Country of Origin: India
- Role: Medium-lift transport
- Weaponry: Anti-tank guided missiles, rocket pods, depth charges, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes
- Top Speed: 174 mph
8. Mil Mi-35 (Hind-E)
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant / Russian Helicopters
- Year: 2005
- Country of Origin: Russia
- Role: Heavy assault gunship/attack
- Weaponry: 23mm twin-barreled cannons, air-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods
- Top Speed: 193 mph
7. UH-1Y Venom (Super Huey)
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 2009
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Medium-lift utility/transport
- Weaponry: Hydra rocket pods, M240D general purpose machine guns, 12.7mm GAU-16/A Gatling guns, 7.62mm GAU-17/A Gatling guns
- Top Speed: 190 mph
6. Mil AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M)
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant / Russian Helicopters
- Year: 2010
- Country of Origin: Brazil
- Role: Assault gunship
- Weaponry: 23mm twin-barreled guns, air-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, machine gun pods
- Top Speed: 193 mph
5. Rudra (ALH-WSI)
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautical Limited
- Year: 2012
- Country of Origin: India
- Role: Gunship/multirole
- Weaponry: 20mm M621 cannon, Helina anti-tank missiles, torpedoes, MBDA air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, anti-ship missiles
- Top Speed: 180 mph
4. KUH-1 Surion
- Manufacturer: Korea Aerospace Industries
- Year: 2013
- Country of Origin: South Korea
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods, TOW anti-tank guided missiles
- Top Speed: 162 mph
3. AW149
- Manufacturer: Leonardo-Finmeccanica
- Year: 2015
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Role: Medium-lift multirole
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods
- Top Speed: 173 mph
2. Z-20
- Manufacturer: Harbin
- Year: 2018
- Country of Origin: China
- Role: Multi-mission
- Weaponry: General-purpose machine guns
- Top Speed: 171 mph
1. V-280 Valor
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Year: 2020
- Country of Origin: United States
- Role: Tiltrotor technology demonstrator
- Weaponry: 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm heavy machine guns, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, 20mm cannon
- Top Speed: 265 mph
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