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Combine Hunter Chopper

The Hunter-Chopper is a Combine rotorcraft used to provide heavy fire support for Combine Overwatch forces. Like the Combine APC, this vehicle is a conventional human design re-engineered by the Combine using their technology.

The Hunter-Chopper is essentially the Combine's re-imagining of a human attack helicopter, retaining many features found in modern attack helicopters but having been augmented with Combine technology and redesigned for greater efficiency and lethality. Most notably, the Chopper includes a drive engine, similar to those found on Combine Gunships, as well as an additional vertical rotor at the front of the craft. The rear section of the Chopper's tail is mounted on a pivot, so that the tail rotor can angle itself and provide greater maneuverability. The Hunter-Chopper is crewed by two Overwatch Soldiers, a pilot and a gunner. Hunter Choppers also have infrared viewing systems, allowing them to sight concealed targets.

The Hunter-Chopper is armed with a powerful pulse turret which, while lacking in accuracy, allows the chopper to attack and damage multiple targets at once. The pulse turret takes a few instants to charge before being able to fire bursts of various durations.

The chopper also fires guided rockets for more accurate and powerful strikes on stationary targets, however, this is only seen once and never used against the player. The Hunter-Chopper can be seen firing these rockets into a ventilation tunnel opening near the end of the chapter "Black Mesa East".

The Hunter-Chopper can also drop mines or bombs which detonate after a set timer or on contact with the target. Hunter-Choppers use these explosive mines as an offensive attack by dropping them directly in front of moving targets and on top of weak structures. The mines are also buoyant, making them quite effective against watercraft such as the Airboat. Although it is unclear where or if they are stored in the vehicle, Hunter-Choppers seem to have a large supply of mines and they can be dropped either one at a time or in carpet-bombing mode, spraying mines across a large area.

Use
The Hunter-Choppers are most often seen in and around City 17 and the Canals searching for refugees attempting to escape the city. On the coast, however, Hunter-Choppers are rare, where they have been supplanted by Gunships.

In Episode Two, Hunter-Choppers are seen near White Forest. It is unknown whether they originally patrolled these areas or if they were called in from elsewhere after the Citadel's destruction.

Tactics
Hunter-Choppers are invulnerable to small arms fire. However, they are vulnerable to damage from the Airboat's mounted gun (which is a salvaged Hunter-Chopper weapon itself), and explosive weapons such as its own bombs and the RPG.
When fighting the Hunter-Chopper with the Airboat near the end of the chapter Water Hazard, it is advised to not to shoot at it while it is doing a strafing run with its pulse cannon as the player may take a lot of damage. Instead, it is recommended to take cover or hide behind a rock until it finishes strafing, and shoot at it while it turns back.
Listening during an encounter with the Hunter-Chopper, the player will be able to tell prematurely when the helicopter is about to shoot; it will make a distinctive noise before firing the turret.
After being severely damaged, the Hunter-Chopper will attempt to kill its attacker by releasing its entire payload of mines as a last resort.
Much of the time, items with which to take the Chopper down will be incidental: for instance, the Hunter-Chopper's own bombs in Episode Two.