Hunter Chopper

An incredibly powerful example of Combine technology,, the hunter-chopper is a combat helicopter used, as the name implies, for search-and-destroy missions against ground targets belonging to the resistance. Like the Combine APC, this vehicle is essentially a human design and concept engineered and redesigned by the Combine using its own technologies. The helicopter carries a two-man crew of Overwatch soldiers, a pilot and a gunner. If the gunner is killed in action, the pilot is able to take over his duties and eject the dead body.

The hunter-chopper is armed with a powerful pulse turret on a fixed mount, a number of unguided rockets and has the ability to drop explosive timed mines. The gun has a wide spread and is used mainly on slow or stationary targets. Before firing the hunter-chopper emits an audible "whining" sound that can be used as an indication of when the gun is charging up. It's armor is substantial, as the Combine alloy it is manufactured from is extremely resilient and durable to enemy fire.

Unlike human mines, these are used offensively - dropped directly in front of enemy vehicles and onto weaker structures. They detonate either upon contact with an enemy, or after a short timer counts down. The mines also float on water, allowing them to be used against boats and other water-craft. One hunter-chopper maneuver involves launching around fifty mines simultaneously during one high-speed bombard - effectively saturating an entire area. Hunter-choppers are among the fastest Combine units, able to keep pace with or outrun, almost any opponent. They are used mainly within the city and its outlying canals to search out and eliminate specific targets, especially those on foot. The hunter-choppers work both as lone attackers and as support units for other attack forces, depending on the mission. At locations further from the city, however, such as the coast or locations where there is a large number of enemies, the Combine will typically choose to use gunships instead for their greater strength and accuracy.

A group of City 17 escapees in the canals through unknown means managed to get hold of a hunter-chopper's pulse turret. When Gordon Freeman arrives at their camp, a Vortigaunt fits this gun onto his air boat. Gordon Freeman is then able to use it to take down the hunter-chopper that has been hunting him from the start of his mission.