The Combat Helicopters Most Widely Used by the World’s Militaries

Helicopters began appearing on the world military stage in the mid-to-late 1930s. One of the first practical helicopters, known as the Heinkel HE 49, was built by German manufacturer Heinkel in 1935 and designed as a reconnaissance aircraft. In 1939, designer Igor Sikorsky created the VS300, one of the first experimental helos, which then led to the development of the first mass-produced helicopter used by the U.S. Airforce – the R-4 (developed from the Sikorsky XR-4 prototype) – and was the only Allied helicopter in use during the Second World War.

Since World War II, combat helicopters have come a long way and have been an indispensable component of modern warfare since they were first used. Military forces worldwide have adopted these rotary aircraft for various purposes, including troop transport, search and rescue, and combat engagement. (These are the countries with the biggest helicopter fleets.)

To determine the most prolific combat helicopters across the globe, 24/7 Wall St. referenced the report, 2023 World Air Forces, from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website. We ranked aircraft by the number of units in active service across the world’s militaries. Supplemental data regarding manufacturer, first flight, notable variants, and initial use came from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more.

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a variation of the S-70 that was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s. Its versatility makes it a popular utility helicopter. The Black Hawk was not primarily conceived as an attack helicopter but has been modified to offer a range of combat options, including aerial assault, medical evacuation, and reconnaissance missions. It has become a valuable tool for dozens of militaries across the globe, in part due to its adaptability, featuring in countless international conflicts and peacekeeping missions. It is currently the most widely used helicopter. (Here is every helicopter in the U.S. military.)

The heavily armored assault helicopter designed by the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the Mil Mi-24 Hind, has been in service since the early 1970s and is used by nearly 50 countries. Considering its dual role as an attack helicopter and troop carrier, the Mi-24 has variable armament capabilities that can be tailored for various combat scenarios, including anti-tank guided missiles, rocket pods, and machine guns. 

While helicopters are generally designed for one role, it is often cheaper to repurpose the same helicopter when operational needs change, which is why many of the helicopters that play a variety of roles tend to fill out this list. They each have a series of variants for the different roles. One example is the Black Hawk, which has been in service for nearly half a century and has more variants than any other helicopter on this list as it serves a multitude of roles, including search and rescue, medium-lift operations, and even as a gunship, across military branches. 

Repurposing helicopters in part explains why many of the helicopters on the list have been in service for decades. This list is populated by helicopters first flown in the mid-1950s to the present. Modern warfare continues to rely on aviation technology to maintain a tactical advantage on the battlefield. Among the numerous aircraft deployed in combat scenarios, helicopters have proven indispensable in providing troops with speedy transportation, air support, and reconnaissance. 

Here are the most prolific combat helicopters across the globe.

10. Eurocopter EC145

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 454 (in 12 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Airbus Helicopters
• First flight: 1999
• Initially used by: France
• Notable variants: UH-72 Lakota, H145 Jupiter

9. MD Helicopters MD500

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 564 (in 20 militaries)
• Manufactured by: MD Helicopters, Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell Douglas
• First flight: 1963
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: MD500 Defender, MD500D Scout Defender, MD530 Nightfox

8. Bell AH-1 Cobra

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 565 (in 15 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Bell Helicopter Company
• First flight: 1963
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: Bell AH-1 Cobra, KingCobra, SeaCobra, Viper

7. Bell Model 212

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 666 (in 26 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Bell Helicopter Company
• First flight: 1968
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: Bell 212, Bell 412

6. Mil Mi-24 Hind

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 922 (in 49 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
• First flight: 1969
• Initially used by: Soviet Union
• Notable variants: Mil Mi-24 Hind-A, Mil Mi-35 Hind-E

5. CH-47 Chinook

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 934 (in 21 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Boeing
• First flight: 1961
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: CH-47 A/B/C/D

4. Bell UH-1 Iroquois

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 950 (in 38 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Bell Helicopter Company
• First flight: 1956
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: UH-1V Venom, Huey II

3. AH-64 Apache

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 1,233 (in 19 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Boeing, McDonnel Douglas
• First flight: 1975
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: AH-64D Apache Longbow, AH-64E Guardian

2. Mil Mi-17 Hip-H

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 2,804 (in 53 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Russian Helicopters
• First flight: 1961
• Initially used by: Soviet Union
• Notable variants: Mi-17-1VA, Mi-17KF

1. Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk

• Number of helicopters in service as of 2023: 3,962 (in 34 militaries)
• Manufactured by: Sikorsky Aircraft
• First flight: 1974
• Initially used by: United States
• Notable variants: SH-60 Seahawk, UH-60 Black Hawk