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==Design and development==
The Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator, which Boeing built from a civilian [[MD Helicopters MD 500|MD 530F]], first flew on September 8, 2004, and made its first autonomous flight (with safety pilot) on October 16, 2004.<ref name=boeing041025>[http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2004/photorelease/q4/pr_041025m.html "Boeing Unveils Low-Cost, Versatile 'Little Bird' That Can Fly Manned or as UAV"]. Boeing, October 25, 2004. Accessed: June 30, 2011.</ref>
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In December 2012, Boeing demonstrated the Unmanned Little Bird version of the AH-6 to the [[South Korean Army]]. The aircraft flew autonomously for 25 minutes to demonstrate the unmanned system's capabilities that can be integrated into Army [[MD 500 Defender]] helicopters.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2012/12/20196/little-bird-demo-for-the-republic-of-korea/ Little Bird demo for the Republic of Korea]. SUASNews.com, 14 December 2012</ref>
In September 2013, [[Aurora Flight Sciences]] and Boeing offered the H-6U Little Bird for the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] unmanned lift/ISR capability competition. Boeing, working as a subcontractor, is flying the Little Bird without human input near [[Manassas, Virginia]], but with a pilot onboard to comply with [[Federal Aviation Administration]] regulations. The Little Bird has an endurance of 12 hours and carries a payload of 25,000 lb, which can include weapons and ISR mission packages. The H-6U is competing against the unmanned [[Kaman K-MAX]], which has a payload of 6,000 lb and has been used in theater to resupply Marines. Evaluations are to begin in February 2014 at [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]].<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130925/SHOWSCOUT/309250023/USMC-Unmanned-Lift-Competition-Taking-Shape?odyssey=mod_sectionstories USMC Unmanned Lift Competition Taking Shape] - Defensenews.com, 25 September 2013</ref>
==Variants==
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