Military Helicopter Type Designations
U.S. military helicopters are usually prefixed with a type designation from this list. However, there are exceptions so this system cannot be called universal:
- AH - Attack Helicopter.Carries weapons used for ground support.
- CH - Cargo Helicopter.Cargo transport, replacing trucks.
- HH - Heavy Helicopter. Large rescue helicopters not otherwise classified.
- MH - Special Operations Helicopter.
- OH - Observation Helicopter.Primary use is reconnaissance.
- RH - Minesweeping Helicopter.
- SH - Anti-submaarine Warfare Helicopter.
- TH - Training Helicopter.
- UH - Utility Helicopter.Troop transport, replacing trucks.
When military helicopters were first procured during World War II, they were designated with numbers like R-4 (R for Rotorcraft). In 1948, the U.S. Army Air Force changed the designation from R to H (Helicopter), renaming existing models. On 9 July 1962 the modern prefix system was adopted and again existing models were renamed, e.g. H-19 redesignated UH-19. Helicopters with an X prefix are experimental, with Y prefix are pre-production.
Chart of Military Helicopters
In this chart of military helicopters, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific helicopter.
| Aircraft | Description | Photo Link |
|---|---|---|
| UH-1 | UH-1 "Huey" Helicopter |
|
| AH-1 | AH-1 Huey Cobra Helicopter |
|
| CH-3 | CH-3 Sea King / Jolly Green Giant Helicopter |
|
| R-4 | R-4 Sikorsky Helicopter |
|
| R-5 | R-5 Sikorsky Helicopter |
|
| R-6 | R-6 Sikorsky Helicopter |
|
| OH-6A | OH-6A Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter |
|
| H-13 | Bell H-13 Sioux Helicopter |
|
| H-19 | Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw Helicopter |
|
| H-21 | Boeing-Vertol H-21 / CH-21 Shawnee Helicopter |
|
| V-22 | Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey |
|
| H-23 | Hiller H-23 Raven Helicopter |
|
| CH-34 | Sikorsky CH-34 Choctaw |
|
| H-37 | Sikorsky H-37 / CH-37 Mojave |
|
| HH-43 | Kaman HH-43 Husky Helicopter |
|
| CH-46 | Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter |
|
| CH-47 | CH-47 Chinook Helicopter |
|
| HH-52 | HH-52 Sea Guard Helicopter |
|
| CH-53 | CH-53 Super Stallion Helicopter |
|
| CH-54 | CH-54 Sky Crane Helicopter |
|
| TH-55A | Boeing Hughes TH-55A Osage Training Helicopter |
|
| OH-58 | OH-58 Kiowa Observation Helicopter |
|
| UH-60 | Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter |
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| AH-64 | AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter |
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| HH-65 | Aerospatiale HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter |
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| AH-66 | Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche |
|
| TH-67 | Bell Textron TH-67 Creek Training Helicopter |
|
| ARH-70 | Bell Textron ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter |
|
| UH-72A | UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter |
|
