The Cheyenne was a compound helicopter designed for a dedicated attack role with low-mounted wings and a tail-mounted thrusting propeller driven by a General Electric T64 turboshaft engine. Ten were built between 1967 and 1969 but the less complex AH-1 Cobra found favour in the Vietnam War as a gunship, the AH-56 program being cancelled in 1972

In 1965 Lockheed and Sikorsky Aircraft won the Project Definition Phase of the US Army Advanced Aerial Fire Support System . Lockheed was chosen the following year to produce 10 prototypes of their compound helicopter with a rigid rotor. This was the number 6 aircraft that did weapons trials at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. It was also the only Cheyenne painted in this variegated camouflage scheme. The helicopter is presently on display at Fort Campbell, KY.