World Wars I and II ushered in the modern era with unprecedented firepower in the form of machine guns, tanks, and specialized aircraft. Among these innovations, the helicopter stood out for its revolutionary ability to take off and land vertically. Without the need for space and runways, helicopters gave pilots incredible flexibility, allowing them to maneuver straight into battle to transport troops and gather reconnaissance.
However, the Vietnam War changed everything as military helicopters began to be outfitted for aggressive attacks. Helicopters like the AH-64 Apache became flying fortresses that engaged directly in battle, wielding missiles to lay down devastating firepower and vanishing well before the enemy had time to respond. (These are the 25 helicopters of the Vietnam War.)
Even today, attack helicopters continue as a vital part of modern warfare. Some can reach unbelievable speeds of over 250 mph, making them crucial for rapid response. Recently, for example, attack helicopters have played a pivotal role in deciding the outcome thus far in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As it stands now, Russia hosts the second largest fleet of attack helicopters in the world, second only to the United States. (These are the countries with the most attack helicopters.)
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
Source: thenationalguard / CC BY 2.0 /Flickr
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. In addition, attack helicopters project power and military might, influencing 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)
Source: emeryjl / Flickr
The OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) is a light observation/attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Hughes Tool Company, it was introduced in 1966 with a top speed of 175 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include 7.62mm machine guns, a 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, Hydra rocket pods, TOW anti-tank missiles, and Hellfire anti-tank missiles.
24. AH-1 HueyCobra / Cobra
Source: friedebach / Flickr
The AH-1 HueyCobra/Cobra is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Bell Helicopter Textron, it was introduced in 1967 with a top speed of 172 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include an M28 turret, 40mm grenade launcher, rocket pods, minigun pods, and TOW anti-tank missiles.
23. OH-58 Kiowa
Source: Public Domain / matt_hecht / Flickr
The OH-58 Kiowa is an armed scout and reconnaissance/light attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Bell Helicopter Textron, it was introduced in 1969 with a top speed of 131 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include 7.62mm machine gun pods, 12.7mm machine gun pods, Hydra rocket pods, Hellfire missiles, and Stinger missiles.
22. AH-1J SeaCobra
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The AH-1J SeaCobra is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Bell Helicopter Textron, it was introduced in 1970 with a top speed of 175 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm M197 Gatling gun, Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, TOW anti-tank missiles, and Sidewinder missiles.
21. AH-1 SuperCobra
Source: kitmasterbloke / Flickr
The AH-1 SuperCobra is an attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Bell Helicopter Textron, it was introduced in 1971 with a top speed of 173 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm Gatling gun, TOW anti-tank missiles, Hellfire missiles, Sidearm missiles, and rocket pods.
20. Mil Mi-24 (Hind)
Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The Mil Mi-24 (Hind) is an attack/assault gunship helicopter from Russia. Made by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, it was introduced in 1973 with a top speed of 208 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include 12.7mm machine guns, 30mm cannons, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, and gun pods.
19. AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird
MH-6 Little Bird carrying Special Forces soldiers.
The AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird is a light attack/observation/transport helicopter from the United States. Made by Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing/MD Helicopters, it was introduced in 1980 with a top speed of 175 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm M230 Chaingun, 7.62mm machine guns, 12.7mm machine guns, Hydra rocket pods, Hellfire missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, and Stinger missiles.
18. AH-64 Apache
Source: usarak / Flickr
The AH-64 Apache is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, it was introduced in 1986 with a top speed of 183 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles, rocket pods, and Stinger missiles.
17. A129 Mangusta (Mongoose)
Source: cooke1 / Flickr
The A129 Mangusta (Mongoose) is a dedicated attack helicopter from Italy. Made by Leonardo-Finmeccanica, it was introduced in 1990 with a top speed of 174 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm M197 Gatling gun, TOW-2 anti-tank missiles, Hellfire missiles, rocket pods, Stinger missiles, and 12.7mm machine gun pods.
16. Ka-50 Black Shark (Hokum)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia
The Ka-50 Black Shark (Hokum) is a dedicated attack helicopter from Russia. Made by Kamov, it was introduced in 1995 with a top speed of 193 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm Shipunov cannon, Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Kegler missiles, Archer missiles, rocket pods, and gun pods.
15. Z-11
Source: Grant Robinson / Wikimedia Commons
The Z-11 is a multirole light utility/attack helicopter from China. Made by the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, it was introduced in 1998 with a top speed of 173 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, 12.7mm machine gun pods, 7.62mm machine gun pods, and rocket pods.
14. PANHA 2091 (Toufan)
Toufan 2 helicopter in flight.
The PANHA 2091 (Toufan) is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from Iran. Made by the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company, it was introduced in 1998 with a top speed of 147 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm M197 3-barreled autocannon, Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, sidewinder missiles, and anti-tank guided missiles.
13. OH-1 Ninja
Source: iyoupapa / Flickr
The OH-1 Ninja is a reconnaissance/observation helicopter from Japan. Made by Kawasaki, it was introduced in 2000 with a top speed of 173 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, gun pods, and cannon pods.
12. Tiger (EC665)
Source: flightlog / Flickr
The Tiger (EC665) is a twin-seat, twin-engine dedicated attack helicopter from France. Made by Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter), it was introduced in 2003 with a top speed of 196 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm GIAT cannon, SNEB rocket pods, Hydra rocket pods, Stinger missiles, Mistral missiles, Hellfire missiles, HOT3 missiles, and Spike-ER missiles.
11. Mil Mi-35 (Hind-E)
Source: friedebach / Flickr
The Mil Mi-35 (Hind-E) is a heavy assault gunship/attack helicopter from Russia. Made by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, it was introduced in 2005 with a top speed of 193 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include 23mm twin-barreled cannons, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, and cannon pods.
10. Mil Mi-28 (Havoc)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Mil Mi-28 (Havoc) is a dedicated two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter from Russia. Made by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, it was introduced in 2009 with a top speed of 199 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm Shipunov cannon, rocket pods, Spril missiles, and cannon pods.
9. AH-1Z Viper
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
The AH-1Z Viper is a twin-seat, twin-engine dedicated attack helicopter from the United States. Made by Bell Helicopter Textron, it was introduced in 2010 with a top speed of 255 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm M196 Gatling gun, Hellfire missiles, Sidewinder missiles, and Hydra rocket pods.
8. Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum-B)
Source: vlsergey / Flickr
The Ka-52 Alligator (Hokum-B) is a two-seat armed reconnaissance/attack helicopter from Russia. Made by Kamov, it was introduced in 2010 with a top speed of 186 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, and cannon pods.
7. Mil AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M)
Mil AH-2 Sabre on the runway.
The Mil AH-2 Sabre (Mi-35M) is an attack/assault gunship helicopter from Brazil. Made by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, it was introduced in 2010 with a top speed of 193 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 23mm twin-barreled gun, anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, and machine gun pods.
6. Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (Kestrel)
Brazilian AH-2 Sabre armed with missiles and rockets.
The Denel AH-2 Rooivalk (Kestrel) is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from South Africa. Made by Denel (Atlas), it was introduced in 2011 with a top speed of 173 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm Armscore F2 cannon, ZT6 Mokopa anti-tank missiles, rocket pods, and Mistral missiles.
5. Z-10 (Fierce Thunderbolt)
Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
The Z-10 (Fierce Thunderbolt) is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter from China. Made by the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, it was introduced in 2012 with a top speed of 186 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 30mm cannon, 40mm grenade launcher, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and rocket pods.
4. Z-19 (Black Whirlwind)
Z-19 helicopter in flight.
The Z-19 (Black Whirlwind) is a reconnaissance/light attack helicopter from China. Made by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, it was introduced in 2012 with a top speed of 152 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include Blue Arrow anti-tank missiles, TY-90 missiles, HJ-8 missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, and gun pods.
3. HESA Shahed 285 / AH-85 (Witness)
Shahed 285 on display.
The HESA Shahed 285 / AH-85 (Witness) is a reconnaissance/light attack helicopter from Iran. Made by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, it was introduced in 2014 with a top speed of 140 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include 7.62mm machine guns, rocket pods, anti-tank guided missiles, Kowsar anti-ship missiles, and Sadid anti-ship missiles.
2. TAI T-129 (ATAK)
Source: lynothehammer / Flickr
The TAI T-129 (ATAK) is a dedicated two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter from Turkey. Made by Turkish Aerospace Industries, it was introduced in 2015 with a top speed of 171 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm Gatling gun, Hellfire missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, Stinger missiles, Sidewinder missiles, rocket pods, and 12.7mm heavy machine guns.
1. HAL Prachand
HAL Prachand in flight.
The HAL Prachand is a light attack helicopter from India. Made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, it was introduced in 2022 with a top speed of 174 mph. The helicopter’s weaponry and armament include a 20mm M621 cannon, gun pods, rocket pods, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.
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