copters

Role Combat Search and Rescue helicopter
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Status In service
Primary users United States Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
Unit cost US$15.8 million

The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program. The HH/MH-60 is a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family.
The MH-60G Pave Hawk's primary mission is insertion and recovery of special operations personnel, while the HH-60G Pave Hawk's primary mission is combat search and rescue (CSAR) of downed pilots. Both versions conduct day or night operations into hostile environments. Because of its versatility, the HH-60G may also perform peace-time operations. Such tasks include civil search and rescue, emergency aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), disaster relief, international aid, counter-drug activities and NASA space shuttle support.

Role Light observation helicopter
Manufacturer MD Helicopters
First flight 27 February 1963
Introduced 1980
Status Active service
Primary user United States Army
Developed from OH-6 Cayuse
Variants MD 500 Defender
Boeing AH-6

The MH-6 Little Bird, also known as "The Killer Egg" and its attack variant, the AH-6, are single-engine light helicopters used for special operations aviation in the United States Army. Originally based on a modified OH-6A, it was later based on the MD 500E, with a single five-bladed main rotor. The newest version, the MH-6M, is based on the MD 530F and has a single, six-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor.

Role Transport helicopter
Manufacturer Boeing Rotorcraft Systems
First flight 21 September 1961
Introduction 1962
Status Active service, in production
Primary users United States Army
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
See CH-47 operators for others
Number built over 1,179[1]
Unit cost $35 million (2008) average[2]
Developed from Vertol Model 107

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) was faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s. It is one of the few aircraft of that era, such as the C-130 Hercules and the UH-1 Iroquois, that is still in production and front line service with over 1,179 built to date. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks.
The Chinook was designed and initially produced by Boeing Vertol in the early 1960s. The helicopter is now produced by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. Chinooks have been sold to 16 nations with the US Army and the Royal Air Force (see Boeing Chinook (UK variants)) being the largest users. The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters.

Role SAR helicopter
Manufacturer Aérospatiale
Eurocopter
First flight 1980
Introduction 1985
Status Active
Primary user United States Coast Guard
Number built 102
Developed from Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin

The Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engined, single main rotor, MEDEVAC-capable Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). It is a variant of the French-built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin.

Role Attack helicopter with transport capabilities
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Mil
First flight September 19, 1969
Introduced 1972
Status Active
Primary users Russian Air Force
ca. 50 other users (see operators)
Number built 2,000 (estimated)
Developed from Mil Mi-8
Developed into Mil Mi-28

The Mil Mi-24 (Cyrillic: Миль Ми-24, NATO reporting name "Hind") is a large helicopter gunship (and attack helicopter)[1] and low-capacity troop transport (with room for 8 passengers) produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated from 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. In October 2007, the Russian Air Force announced it would replace its 250 Mi-24 helicopter gunships with 300 more modern Mi-28s and possibly Ka-50s by 2015

Role Cargo helicopter
Manufacturer Vertol Aircraft Corp.
Boeing Vertol
First flight August 1962
Introduction 1964
Retired 24 September 2004 (US Navy)[1]
Status Active service
Primary users United States Marine Corps
Japan
Saudi Arabia
Sweden
Produced 1962–1971
Number built H-46: 524[2]
Unit cost US$6 million in 1987[3]
Variants CH-113 Labrador

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter, used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Assault Support is its primary function, and the movement of supplies and equipment is secondary. Additional tasks include combat support, search and rescue, support for forward refueling and rearming points, CASEVAC and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The commercial version is the BV 107-II, commonly referred to as simply the "Vertol".

Role Transport helicopter
Manufacturer Boeing Rotorcraft Systems
First flight 23 March 1980 (HC1)
Introduced 1980 with RAF
Status Active service
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built 58
Developed from Boeing CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing Chinook is a tandem rotor helicopter operated by the Royal Air Force. A series of variants based on the United States Army's Boeing CH-47 Chinook, the RAF Chinook fleet is the largest outside of the United States.[1] RAF Chinooks have seen extensive service including fighting in the Falklands War, peace-keeping commitments in the Balkans, and action in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The Chinook HC2 aircraft, normally based at RAF Odiham, provides heavy-lift support and transport across all branches of the British armed forces, and is supported by the smaller, medium-lift helicopters such as the AgustaWestland Merlin HC3 and the Westland Puma HC1, based at RAF Benson and RAF Aldergrove.

Role ASW & medium-lift transport / Utility helicopter
Manufacturer AgustaWestland
First flight 9 October 1987
Introduced 2000
Status Active service
Primary users Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
Italian Navy
Portuguese Air Force Danish Airforce
Produced 1990s-present
Unit cost US$21 million (2009 dollars)

The AgustaWestland AW101 (EH101 until June 2007) is a medium-lift helicopter for military applications but also marketed for civil use. The helicopter was developed as a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the UK and Agusta in Italy (now merged as AgustaWestland). The aircraft is manufactured at the AgustaWestland factories in Yeovil, England and Vergiate, Italy. The name Merlin is used for AW101s in the British, Danish and Portuguese militaries.

Role Attack helicopter
National origin Soviet Union / Russia
Manufacturer Kamov
First flight 17 June 1982
Introduction 28 August 1995
Status Limited service
Primary user Russian Air Force (VVS)
Number built Ka-50: 15 as of 2006[1]
Ka-52: 10 as of 2006[2]
Unit cost 484 million rubles (approx. $15 million) as of May 2009

The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" (Russian: Чёрная акула; Chornaya Akula Black Shark, NATO reporting name: Hokum A) is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. It is currently manufactured by the Progress company in Arsenyev.
During the late 1990s, Kamov and Israel Aerospace Industries developed a tandem-seat cockpit version, the Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan", to compete in Turkey's attack helicopter competition. Kamov also designed another two-seat variant, the Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" (Russian: Аллигатор, NATO reporting name: Hokum B).

Role Transport helicopter
Manufacturer Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
Kazan Helicopter Plant
First flight 7 July 1961
Introduced 1967
Status In service
Primary users Soviet Union (historical)
ca. 80 other countries, see Operators below
Produced 1961–
Number built >17,000
Unit cost $5-8 million (2006)
Variants Mil Mi-14
Mil Mi-17

The Mil Mi-8 (Russian Ми-8, NATO reporting name "Hip") is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter,[1] and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter.