AH-6M Little Bird Helicopter

A AH-6M Little Bird attack helicopter banks while providing close air support to troops with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during a fire support coordination exercise, January 2015.

The Little Bird is armed with 2 M260 7-tube rocket pods containing 2.

75inch Hydra 70 rockets.

The helicopter is also toting 2 M134 7.62mmx51mm miniguns.

AH-6Ms are operated by the 1st Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

One of their roles is the support of ground forces, including special operations forces such as the Rangers.

They regularly train to coordinate their actions with elements on the ground such as Ranger Fire Support Teams (FIST) or USAF Tactical Air Control Parties (TACP).