Helicopters were flown during World War II but not for combat. They were used for rescue missions and as medevacs. It wouldn’t be until the Vietnam War that attack helicopters had widespread use during combat. Today’s modern attack helicopters are used in a variety of roles, such as the AH-64A Apache which can attack tanks and other enemy targets. The Apache is designed to withstand enemy fire by absorbing damage.
To identify the oldest and newest attack helicopters of the modern era, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalogue of military helicopters from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries worldwide. We ordered these helicopters chronologically by the year each was introduced. We also included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of helicopter, country of origin, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.
Why We’re Writing About Modern Attack Helicopters
The evolution of modern-era attack helicopters provides insight into many financial and geopolitical trends. For example, attack helicopters are expensive to develop, manufacture, and maintain, which in turn reflects the military spending priorities of a nation. Attack helicopters also project power and military might, which influences international relations. Studying how these aerial weapons adapt to new technologies and threats helps us to understand modern warfare and its ever-changing landscape.
Here is a look at the oldest and newest attack helicopters of the modern era.
25. OH-6 Cayuse (Loach)
- Type: Light observation / attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1966
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Hughes Tool Company
- Top speed: 175 mph
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, Hydra rocket pods, TOW anti-tank missiles, Hellfire anti-tank missiles
24. AH-1 HueyCobra / Cobra
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1967
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
- Top speed: 172 mph
- Armament: M28 turret, 40mm grenade launcher, rocket pods, minigun pods, TOW anti-tank missiles
23. OH-58 Kiowa
- Type: Armed scout and reconnaissance / light attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1969
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
- Top speed: 131 mph
- Armament: 7.62mm machine gun pods, 12.7mm machine gun pods, Hydra rocket pods, Hellfire missiles, Stinger missiles
22. AH-1J SeaCobra
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1970
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
- Top speed: 175 mph
- Armament: 20mm M197 Gatling gun, Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, TOW anti-tank missiles, Sidewinder missiles
21. AH-1 SuperCobra
- Type: Attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1971
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
- Top speed: 173 mph
- Armament: 20mm Gatling gun, TOW anti-tank missiles, Hellfire missiles, Sidearm missiles, rocket pods
20. Mil Mi-24 (Hind)
- Type: Attack / assault gunship helicopter
- Year introduced: 1973
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Top speed: 208 mph
- Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 30mm cannons, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, gun pods
19. AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird
MH-6 Little Bird carrying Special Forces soldiers.
- Type: Light attack / observation / transport helicopter
- Year introduced: 1980
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / MD Helicopters
- Top speed: 175 mph
- Armament: 30mm M230 Chaingun, 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm machine guns, Hydra rocket pods, Hellfire missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, Stinger missiles
18. AH-64 Apache
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1986
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
- Top speed: 183 mph
- Armament: 30mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles, rocket pods, Stinger missiles
17. A129 Mangusta (Mongoose)
- Type: Dedicated attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1990
- Country of origin: Italy
- Manufacturer: Leonardo-Finmeccanica
- Top speed: 174 mph
- Armament: 20mm M197 Gatling gun, TOW-2 anti-tank missiles, Hellfire missiles, rocket pods, Stinger missiles, 12.7mm machine gun pods
16. Ka-50 Black Shark (Hokum)
- Type: Dedicated single-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1995
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Kamov
- Top speed: 193 mph
- Armament: 30mm Shipunov cannon, Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Kegler missiles, Archer missiles, rocket pods, gun pods
15. Z-11
- Type: Multirole light utility / attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1998
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 173 mph
- Armament: 40mm automatic grenade launcher, 12.7mm machine gun pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods, rocket pods
14. PANHA 2091 (Toufan)
Toufan 2 helicopter in flight.
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1998
- Country of origin: Iran
- Manufacturer: Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company
- Top speed: 147 mph
- Armament: 20mm M197 3-barreled autocannon, Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, sidewinder missiles, anti-tank guided missiles
13. OH-1 Ninja
- Type: Reconnaissance / observation helicopter
- Year introduced: 2000
- Country of origin: Japan
- Manufacturer: Kawasaki
- Top speed: 173 mph
- Armament: Air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, gun pods, cannon pods
12. Tiger (EC665)
- Type: Twin-seat, twin-engine dedicated attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2003
- Country of origin: France
- Manufacturer: Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter)
- Top speed: 196 mph
- Armament: 30mm GIAT cannon, SNEB rocket pods, Hydra rocket pods, Stinger missiles, Mistral missiles, Hellfire missiles, HOT3 missiles, Spike-ER missiles
11. Mil Mi-35 (Hind-E)
- Type: Heavy assault gunship / attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2005
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Top speed: 193 mph
- Armament: 23mm twin-barreled cannons, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods
10. Mil Mi-28 (Havoc)
- Type: Dedicated two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2009
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Top speed: 199 mph
- Armament: 30mm Shipunov cannon, rocket pods, Spril missiles, cannon pods
9. AH-1Z Viper
- Type: Twin-seat, twin-engine dedicated attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2010
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
- Top speed: 255 mph
- Armament: 20mm M196 Gatling gun, Hellfire missiles, Sidewinder missiles, Hydra rocket pods
8. Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum-B)
- Type: Two-seat armed reconnaissance / attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2010
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Kamov
- Top speed: 186 mph
- Armament: 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods
7. Mil AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M)
Mil AH-2 Sabre on the runway.
- Type: Attack / assault gunship helicopter
- Year introduced: 2010
- Country of origin: Brazil
- Manufacturer: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
- Top speed: 193 mph
- Armament: 23mm twin-barreled bun, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, machine gun pods
6. Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (Kestrel)
Brazilian AH-2 Sabre armed with missiles and rockets.
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2011
- Country of origin: South Africa
- Manufacturer: Denel (Atlas)
- Top speed: 173 mph
- Armament: 20mm Armscore F2 cannon, ZT6 Mokopa anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, Mistral missiles
5. Z-10 (Fierce Thunderbolt)
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2012
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 186 mph
- Armament: 30mm cannon, 40mm grenade launcher, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods
4. Z-19 (Black Whirlwind)
Z-19 helicopter in flight.
- Type: Reconnaissance / light attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2012
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
- Top speed: 152 mph
- Armament: Blue Arrow anti-tank missiles, TY-90 missiles, HJ-8 missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, gun pods
3. HESA Shahed 285 / AH-85 (Witness)
Shahed 285 on display.
- Type: Light attack / reconnaissance helicopter
- Year introduced: 2014
- Country of origin: Iran
- Manufacturer: Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company
- Top speed: 140 mph
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods, anti-tank guided missiles, Kowsar anti-ship missiles, Sadid anti-ship missiles
2. TAI T-129 (ATAK)
- Type: Dedicated two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2015
- Country of origin: Turkey
- Manufacturer: Turkish Aerospace Industries
- Top speed: 171 mph
- Armament: 20mm Gatling gun, Hellfire missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, Stinger missiles, Sidewinder missiles, rocket pods, 12.7mm heavy machine guns
1. HAL Prachand
HAL Prachand in flight.
- Type: Light attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 2022
- Country of origin: India
- Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- Top speed: 174 mph
- Armament: 20mm M621 cannon, gun pods, rocket pods, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles
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