Following the cancellation of the AH-56 Cheyenne in 1972, in favor of projects like the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Marine Corps Harrier, the United States Army sought an aircraft to fill an anti-armor attack role that would still be under Army command.
Tras a cancelación do AH-56 Cheyenne en 1972, en favor de proxectos como o A-10 Thunderbolt II da USAF e o Harrier do Corpo de Marines, o Exército dos Estados Unidos buscou unha aeronave para encher o rol de ataque contra unidades blindadas.