Boeing to support special ops Little Bird fleet through 2030

Key Points
  • Boeing received an $18.5 million IDIQ contract to provide engineering and technical support for the A/MH‑6 Little Bird program.
  • The work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with completion expected by November 2030.

The Boeing has been awarded an $18,5 million contract to provide engineering and technical support services for the A/MH-6 “Little Bird” helicopters operated by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

The award was announced on November 12, 2025.

According to the Department of War, the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract will fund ongoing technical assistance to the A/MH-6 Program Office, including design support, sustainment engineering, and related system-level support functions. The effort will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with a projected completion date of November 13, 2030.

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The Little Bird platform, manufactured by Boeing and operated by U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command units, is a lightweight, highly maneuverable rotorcraft used for precision insertion, armed reconnaissance, and close air support missions. Variants of the aircraft include the unarmed A/MH-6M “Mission Enhanced Little Bird” and its armed counterpart outfitted with forward-firing weapons.

The award supports continued modernization and mission readiness of the Little Bird fleet through technical refreshes, integration of new components, and performance upgrades tailored to special operations requirements. The aircraft’s compact size and performance at low altitude have made it a key tool for U.S. special operations forces conducting air assault missions in urban and denied environments.

Contract Number H9224126DE002 was awarded through a competitive process managed by U.S. Special Operations Command, which is based at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The command did not disclose the number of orders expected to be issued under the IDIQ arrangement but confirmed Boeing will serve as the primary technical support provider for the duration of the five-year performance period.

The contract ensures that the A/MH-6 fleet remains operationally available and technically current as U.S. Special Operations Command adapts to changing mission sets and evolving threats. The aircraft is frequently deployed alongside other special operations aviation platforms, including the MH-60 and MH-47 series, in joint and multinational environments.

Boeing’s facility in Mesa has served as the central production site for light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft, including the AH-6i export variant and the AH-64 Apache.

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