Attack Helicopter Generations

Attack helicopters have gone through several notable changes in development and capabilities throughout their history, changes which are continuing to this day. These changes can be captured in distinct generations of attack helicopters, with significant similarities to generations of fighter aircraft development. Understanding the technological development contained in each generation of attack helicopters gives a relative comparison of the capabilities contained in each and the technology trajectory of improvement. This paper will attempt to categorize attack helicopter development by generations, providing the various characteristics and rationale for each, as well as defining the implications of this development for current design and future attack helicopter improvements.