Military helicopter

MC-130 Combat Talon / AC-130A "Project Gunship II"


The Combat Talon aircraft is a variant of the the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and was used during the Virtuous Mission to transport Naked Snake and his FOX support team to Tselinoyarsk. The name implies that the aircraft is supposed to be an MC-130 Combat Talon equipped with the weaponry suite used by the earliest versions of the AC-130A gunship. It was marked with "000", indicating that the Combat Talon used during the Virtuous Mission was an experimental aircraft. Because the Virtuous Mission was a no-support single plane mission, the Combat Talon also utilized various highly sophisticated sensors, including systems for gathering weather information. Being an MC-130, the aircraft is equipped with the Fulton Recovery System which allows personnel to be picked up by the plane, using a balloon attached to them. The Combat Talon is armed with two 20mm Vulcan rotary guns and two 40mm Bofors repeating cannons, which gave it more than enough power to hold its own against a batallion of tanks. It was also installed with a passive thermal night-vision device.

The Combat Talon later began mass production in 1966, two years after the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.

B-2 Spirit


The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, also referred to as the Stealth Bomber, is an American heavy bomber that utilized stealth.

Nearing the end of the Shadow Moses Incident, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Houseman attempted to issue a nuclear strike on the Shadow Moses Island nuclear weapons facility in order to accomplish a coverup, with six F-177A Nighthawks and one B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber undertaking the bombing run. However, the bombing strike orders were cancelled by the Patriots long before they actually arrived at Shadow Moses Island, because Houseman's attempt at covering up the events of the Shadow Moses Incident would have made a complete cover up impossible.

C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four engine turboprop military transport aircraft for transporting troops.

A C-130 Hercules was used to carry Snake into Zanzibar Land and have him HAHO Jump into the enemy nation to retrieve Dr. Kio Marv and his formula. Zanzibar Land also used various C-130 Hercules in its arsenal.

C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the United States Air Force.

Big Boss arrived back in America in a Starlifter shortly after the events of the San Hieronymo Takeover, after he effectively cleared his name by demolishing both Metal Gear RAXA and the ICBMG, as well as stopped Gene's attempt at launching the latter weapon at Virginia, USA.

C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy was a large military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances as well as carry outsize and oversize cargo. It was among the largest aircraft of the world and has been in the service of the United States Air Force since 1969.

The C-5 Galaxy has not made an appearance in the Metal Gear series proper, but it was mentioned in the game Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (known in the United States and Europe as Metal Gear Solid) where a C-5 Galaxy transport plane containing nukes and Metal Gear GANDER was captured by Black Chamber under orders from the Gindra Liberation Force while en-route to South America for testing.



E-3 AWACS
The E-3 Sentry is an AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) airborne radar platform based on the Boeing 707 commercial airframe. It is designed to detect enemy aircraft and provide surveillance and electronic support to friendly warplanes, ships, and anti-aircraft batteries. Jim Houseman was on board an AWACS plane when he ordered the destruction of Shadow Moses by nuclear weapons.

F-16C Fighting Falcon


First flown in 1974, the F-16 is the backbone of the US Air Force. During the beginning of Solid Snake's infiltration mission of Shadow Moses Island, the US Air Force sent in two F-16 fighter jets from Galena AFB as a diversionary tactic. The plan was to begin the infiltration while the terrorists had their eyes on the F-16s. The diversion proved to be effective, as Liquid Snake departed to engage them in a Hind-D. Incredibly, he was able to shoot them both down with the Hind. After shooting them down, Liquid contacted the Government and warned them that, should they try to pull a similar stunt like that again, he would launch the nuke.

F-117A Nighthawk
The world's first operational stealth aircraft, the F-117 was developed to evade Soviet air defenses using radar absorbant material, and has become the pioneer in aviation stealth technology. Six were deployed, along with one B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, to destroy Shadow Moses Island and any incriminating evidence concerning the development of Metal Gear REX and the Genome Army. However, the airstrike was called off by Roy Campbell, who had the secretary of defense Jim Houseman placed under arrest.

M-21


Based on the A-12 'Oxcart' that would later become SR-71 Blackbird, the M-21 was designed by Lockheed Martin Skunkworks as a reconnaissance aircraft for the CIA. It could fly at Mach 3+, making it much faster than any aircraft or missiles that may be used to intercept it.

The aircraft was used to transport a D-21 reconnaissance drone, modified to carry a passenger, into Tselinoyarsk, during Operation Snake Eater. The drone was used to insert Naked Snake into the area, due to heightened security. It was rigged to self destruct when the enemy is near, although it was also deliberately given American symbols to ensure that the Russians at least know that an American is involved in Operation Snake Eater as part of the negotiations with Khrushchev. After landing and finding out about its origins, Naked Snake also suggested that future designs of the D-21 pilot model fix certain errors, as potential pilots could get killed using the drone in its current state.

MiG-21 Fishbed
The MiG-21 Fishbed is one of the Soviet Union's frontline fighter jets. They can be equipped with rocket pods and bombs for air-to-ground bombing runs.

Used to control the airspace over Tselinoyarsk, Naked Snake needed to avoid several MiGs with the D-21 drone at the beginning of Operation Snake Eater. In Snake's battle with The Boss MiGs were ordered to bomb the area giving her and Snake limited time in which to fight. Later, when he and EVA were making their escape, a couple of MiGs threatened to shoot them down but Nikita Khrushchev called them off. The pilots wear pressurized suits so they can survive flying in the high atmosphere.

''According to the Voice Casting Guide for the game, the MIG Pilots were in the age range of their 30s to their 40s. ''

Bartini Beriev VVA-14 (WIG)


WIG stands for "Wing In Ground effect" and is used to describe a phenomenon whereby an aircraft flying extremely low to the ground generates an air cushion beneath its wings, which can be used as a method of sustaining flight; this type of aircraft is known in Russia as an Ekranoplan. The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 Vertikal`no-Vzletayuschaya Amphibia (Vertical Take-off Amphibious Aircraft") was a Soviet project aimed at producing an amphibious aircraft able to engage and destroy American Polaris missile submarines, which produced two prototypes between 1972 and 1987, when the remaining prototype was retired. Despite being designed for vertical takeoff, the fan allowing this was never fitted to either prototype.

The VVA-14 was another of the advanced vehicle projects that GRU Colonel Volgin carried to completion much earlier than expected, using the massive funding of the Philosophers' Legacy. A number were seen on the main runway of Groznyj Grad (with at least one being destroyed by Colonel Volgin piloting the Shagohod) and one was later used by EVA and Naked Snake to make their escape from Tselinoyask. The one EVA used was a prototype supplied to GRU, and it also had no weapons systems installed yet.

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
The Sukhoi Su-27, known by their NATO reporting name as "Flankers", is a fighter jet originally designed by the Soviet Union and was a mainstay in the Russian Federation's Air Force. The Flanker is an extremely capable aircraft that can hold its own against the American F-15 Eagle or the British Tornado.

Zanzibar Land utilized Flankers as part of their Strategic Air Force's fighter division.

Lavochkin La-5
The Lavochkin La-5 was a Soviet-made fighter craft used during World War II, and was considered one of the most reliable aircraft within the Soviet Air Force.

During the San Hieronymo Takeover in late 1970, the former Soviet commander of the San Hieronymo Peninsula, Colonel Skowronski, had a Lavochkin La-5 among his collection onboard the tanker, which Snake later noticed when conversing with Skowronski after the latter was imprisoned by Python due to being discovered.

YAH-56


The YAH-56A Cheyenne was an American prototype attack helicopter originally intended to replace the AH-1 Cobra. It was originally designed as an armed escort for transport helicopters such as the UH-1D Iroquois. However, it failed to get beyond the test production stages, as intelligence revealed the Soviets had already developed anti-aircraft weapons that would counter its high-speed dive attack profile, and in addition there was at least one fatal accident during testing and it went overbudget. The AH-64 Apache was developed after the cancellation of the YAH-56.

The Peace Sentinels somehow managed to procure some YAH-56A helicopters, prior to the 1974 Peace Walker Incident, which came in two variants: a bomber variant and a raider variant. The bomber variant, as the name implies, utilizes iron bombs (presumably of the Mark 81 variety) in bombing runs. The raider variant was developed as a means of destroying tanks, and are designed to utilize anti-tank missiles that can be fired from long distances, to the extent that it could be compared to an extremely powerful flying tank. The Militaires Sans Frontieres also stole some of these helicopters (both original and custom-designed) from the Peace Sentinels and added them to their expanding resources.

Black square-shaped helicopter
A black, square-shaped helicopter was described by Alaskan fisherman John-Dee after being captured near Shadow Moses Island. In addition, when journalist Gary McGolden attempted to escape the island, he saw the same type of helicopter heading towards him before he blacked out. It is implied that these choppers were utilized by agents of the Patriots and were some sort of transport chopper.

Boeing AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a twin engined, two-seat attack helicopter adopted by the U.S. Army in 1984; a distinctive machine with a four-bladed main rotor and tailwheel undercarriage.

UH-1D/H Iroquois
The UH-1 Iroquois, nicknamed Huey, was a United States Army helicopter developed during the Cold War to replace the UH-34 Choctaw, and is one of the most successful helicopter designs in history. The Huey is tough, reliable, and sturdy; in other words, everything a US military aircraft is expected to be. It saw extensive use during the Vietnam War and remained the Army's standard transport/utility helicopter until it was replaced by the UH-60 Blackhawk in the mid-1980s. The UH-1 remains in service with the Marines, who recently developed the UH-1Y variant. Retired military UH-1s, as well as purpose-built civilian models, are used extensively in America and around the world for firefighting, medical evacuation, law enforcement, construction, VIP transport, and general utility purposes.

The Militaires Sans Frontieres used several Hueys during the Peace Walker Incident. The helicopters were modified to include a recovery hook for transporting MSF recruits back to Mother Base, via the Fulton Surface-to-air Recovery System. Multiple personnel recoveries during operations, and the greater exposure to enemy fire during landings, necessitated the use of the modified Hueys. Its relatively low running/repair costs and quick response time, compared with other aicraft of the time, were also contributing factors in the MSF's choice of helicopter, although subcommander Kazuhira Miller had to explain the reasonings to a confused Big Boss at least twice. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Kojima Productions (2010). Briefing Files > File Library > Miller > Mother Base > Fulton Recovery Kazuhira Miller: Snake, you can use the Fulton Surface-to-air Recovery System to send prisoners and unconscious mercenaries you encounter back to the Mother Base. I know you've used the Fulton before, but just to make sure I'm not missing anything, let's review the steps. // Naked Snake (Big Boss): OK. // Miller: First, attach a balloon to the unconscious enemy or captured prisoner. // Snake: Right. I hook a wire to the their waist, and on the other end of the wire there's a helium balloon. // Miller: Right. Then we'll send over a chopper to catch the floating balloon with its recovery hook and reel it up into its cargo hold. // Snake: And that's it. // Miller: And that's it. We finished installing the recovery hook on the Huey... // Snake: Wait, Kaz, something doesn't make sense about this whole process. // Miller: Not this again... // Snake: Normally, Fulton recovery is for when you're using fixed-wing aircraft. With a helicopter, isn't it simpler to land and pick up directly? // Miller: Listen, Snake, you're gonna be calling for recoveries repeatedly throughout your mission. We want to keep the risk of taking enemy fire to a minimum. The best way to get that done that is to do the recovery in a high-speed fly-by. That's what the Fulton Surface-to-air Recovery System is for. // Snake: Uh huh... what's the real reason? // Miller: Helicopters are cheaper. And the repair bills will start adding up once the bullets start flying... // Snake: Thought so. Kaz, I know we need to keep costs down, but... // Miller: Boss, you really need to get rid of this whole Army mentality. We're not the Pentagon. We don't have billions of taxpayer dollars to play with. And besides... // Snake: Fine, fine. Just pick a reason that makes sense. // Miller: Helicopters have quicker response time. Sounds strange, yeah, but it works great, I promise. You'll get used to it before long. // Snake: Yeah, I hope so. At least one of the Hueys was supplied to the Militaires Sans Frontieres along with its Mother Base by Ramon Galvez Mena as a downpayment for hiring them.

A Huey helicopter was briefly seen in the montage accompanying Gene's speech shortly before driving his own men to mass-riot-suicide.

Gyrocopters
Gyrocopters, also known as the Autogyro, are helicopters that are operated by the pilot pedaling to operate the rotor blades.

Although never actually seen in the Metal Gear series proper, the non-canon game Snake's Revenge does have various enemy soldiers using gyrocopters to scout for enemies around the Jungle area at the beginning of the game.

Hind helicopters

 * For the full article, see Mi-24 Hind

Hind A prototypes were utilized by GRU forces around Tselinoyarsk in both the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.

Hind As were frequently used by Soviet and FOX soldiers during the San Hieronymo Peninsula.

Hind As and Hind Ds were utilized by the Peace Sentinels, to which several were captured by the Militaires Sans Frontieres private military grouo led by Big Boss.

Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land utilized Hind Ds.

While infiltrating Shadow Moses Island during the FOXHOUND revolt of 2005, Solid Snake did battle with a Hind D, piloted by his own brother, Liquid Snake, and a Genome Soldier. Earlier, Liquid Snake had used the Hind D to shoot down two F-16s. Snake was able to destroy the Hind and seemingly kill Liquid in the process, yet later, upon discovering a parachute hanging from a nearby tree, it was evident that Liquid had survived the crash.

Havoc
The Mil Mi-28, also known by its NATO reporting name Havoc, was a Russian all-weather day-night tandem two-seat anti-armor attack helicopter. It was made after testing the Hind in 1972 and filled out the attack chopper role perfectly without any secondary transport duties, making it the Russian's first pure attack chopper.

The Havoc hasn't made an appearance in the Metal Gear'' series proper. However, it did appear in the game Metal Gear: Ghost Babel (known in the United States and Europe as Metal Gear Solid) as a chopper utilized by both the Gindra Liberation Front and the Black Chamber. The former was utilized by Sophie N'dram to attack Snake, the latter of whom also confused her with Chris Jenner due to a passing resemblance. The latter was utilized earlier by Black Chamber leader Black Arts Viper in order to distract Snake long enough to allow Metal Gear GANDER to launch a nuke via one of its railguns.''

Sikorsky helicopters

 * For the full article, see Gigant
 * For the full article, see HH-64 Dragoon

The Gigant, a modified Sikorsky-type helicopter, was developed in Zanzibar Land for the purpose of airlifting Metal Gear D into battle.

The Sikorsky HH-64 Dragoon, was used in Zanzibar Land, during Operation Intrude F014, for the extraction of Solid Snake and Holly White.

The HH-60 Seahawk was used by the U.S. Navy to transport the SEAL Teams to the Big Shell during the Manhattan Incident. Both helicopters however, were shot down by a Harrier piloted by Solidus Snake and ended up "in the bottom of the harbor," as the Colonel put it.

Helicopters in use circa 2014 and beyond


At least three distinct types of helicopters were used during Liquid Ocelot's Insurrection. These include helicopters used by the U.S. military forces and Philanthropy, which appears to be fusions of the UH-60 Blackhawk forward fuselage with the Kamov Ka-50 (and its variants) for the coaxial rotor and tail. One of these helicopters was in use by Roy Campbell when picking Snake up so he can brief him on the location of Liquid Ocelot. In addition, three of these same helicopter types were used by the joint Army/Marines task force led by Meryl in an attempt to apprehend Liquid at Eastern Europe, although Liquid managed to use his newly hijacked control over SOP to "shoot down" two of the choppers by deactivating them. Another type is the McDonnel Douglas MD902 Explorer used by Philanthropy (As evidenced by the markings on the fueslage, which is a NOTAR (No-Tail-Rotor) design. This was used by Otacon to insert Snake and the Mk.III at Shadow Moses Island.

Multiple Explorers were seen operating near the Missouri during the assault on Outer Haven, presumbaly by Philanthropy crews, as the MD902 has never been operated by the US Military. (However, it was evaluated by the US Coast Gaurd as the MH-90 Enforcer for use in drug interdiction from 1998 to 2000. It however lost to the MH-68 Stingray (Augusta A109 Power in civilian trim) which ultimately was replaced by the MH-65C Dolphin. Assuming these were being operated by Philanthropy, it would go far as to show Philanthropy's true size and capability aside from just Otacon and Snake.

A third, operated by Liquid Ocelot's PMC forces, appears to be a hybrid of the Super Stallion and Chinook. Liquid Ocelot boarded this helicopter shortly after the disasterous results of the Middle Eastern test. Another chopper, perhaps the same one, was later used to retrieve Naomi Hunter, although she managed to escape during takeoff during the confusion resulting from the failed hijacking of the system with Solid Snake's DNA.

Unknown Modified Tiltrotor

Not much is known about this aircraft but it was seen in the TGS Game Show trailer It can be seen above the cyborg that tortured and killed the African prime minister As seen in the picture it bears a striking resemblance to the Real life V-22 osprey

Canard Rotor VTOL scouting craft
The Canard Rotor VTOL scouting craft were hybrid fixed/rotary wing gunships used by the PMCs, which have a large two-blade rotor capable of being locked in place and used as a wing surface for high-speed flight. Their primary weaponry were missiles and a chin-mounted M230 chaingun. During the insurrection, they were mostly seen in helicopter configuration, though a few in jet configuration were seen in the Middle East. These helicopters are later used during the events of 2023.

The aircraft was not actually named in Metal Gear Solid 4'' itself, but it was identified as such in the novelization written by Project Itoh. They are based on, and to a certain extent named after, the Boeing X-50 Dragonfly, a failed project aimed at producing a helicopter that could transition to fixed-wing flight in mid air which was cancelled in 2006. In addition, the rotary position was the only type encountered in gameplay, as the fixed winged position was seen only in the beginning cutscene of Act 1.''