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AH-1W SuperCobra

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AH-1W SuperCobra
A USMC AH-1W SuperCobra taking off from an amphibious assault carrier
Type Attack helicopter
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
Status Active service
Primary users United States Marine Corps
Republic of China Army
Turkish Army
Produced 1985-present
Unit cost AH-1W: US$10.7 million[1]
Developed from AH-1 SeaCobra
Variants Bell YAH-63/Bell 409
Panha 2091
AH-1Z Viper

The Bell AH-1W SuperCobra is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the USMC's AH-1 SeaCobra. The AH-1W is the backbone of the United States Marine Corps's attack helicopter fleet, but will be replaced in service by the AH-1Z Viper upgrade in the next decade.

Development

An advanced version of the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra was proposed to Iran in the late 1970s, but the overthrow of the Shah of Iran resulted in the sale being canceled.[2] Known as the AH-1T+, it had more powerful T700-GE-700 engines and advanced avionics.

In the early 1980s, the US Marine Corps sought a new navalized helicopter, but was denied funding to buy the AH-64 Apache by Congress in 1981. The Marines in turn pursued the AH-1T+. Other changes included modified fire control systems to carry and fire AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The new version was funded by Congress and received the AH-1W designation.[2]

The AH-1T+ demonstrator and AH-1W prototype was later tested with a new experimental composite four blade main rotor system. The new system offered better performance, reduced noise and improved battle damage tolerance. Lacking a USMC contract, Bell developed this new design into the AH-1Z with its own funds. By 1996, the Marines were again not allowed to order the AH-64.[2] Developing a marine version of the Apache would have been expensive and it was likely that the Marine Corps would be its only customer.[3] They instead signed a contract for upgrading 180 AH-1Ws into AH-1Z VIpers.[2]

Operational history

U.S. Marines AH-1W SuperCobra refueling during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the Gulf War in 1990-91, the Cobras and SeaCobras deployed in a support role. A total of 78 Marine SeaCobras flew 1,273 sorties[4] with no combat losses. Three AH-1s were lost in accidents during fighting and afterwards. Marine AH-1Ws destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personal carriers and vehicles, and two anti-aircraft artillery sites during the 100-hour ground campaign.[2]

The Pakistan Army has also used the AH-1 as its primary gunship helicopter during the mid-1970s tribal uprising in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, where donated Iranian AH-1J were used against tribal insurgents. The recent insurgencies in the Waziristan regions has seen Pakistani AH-1s seeing action against Taliban & Al Qaeda fighters and their tribal allies, as well as operations against insurgents in another more recent Baluch tribal uprising recently led by armed Bugti and Marri tribesmen under the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and the Balochistan Liberation Army since the mid-2000s.

File:Ah1-228-070719-02cr-16.jpg
AH-1W on a training mission at the Mojave Spaceport.

AH-1 Cobras continue to operate with the the US Marine Corps. USMC Cobras were also used in operations throughout the 1990s.[2] USMC Cobras have also served in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. While new replacement aircraft were considered as an alternative to major upgrades of the AH-1 fleet, Marine Corps studies showed that an upgrade was the most affordable, most supportable and most effective solution for the Marine Corps light attack helicopter mission.[5] The AH-1W also utilizes a more diverse array of ordnance compared to the Apache.[citation needed]

Variants

AH-1T+ 
AH-1W SuperCobra 
("Whiskey Cobra"), day/night version with more powerful engines and advanced weapons capability.
AH-1Z Viper 
("Zulu Cobra"), in conjunction with the UH-1Y Venom upgrade. Version includes an upgraded 4 blade main rotor and adds the Night Targeting System (NTS).
Cobra Venom 
Proposed version for the United Kingdom.
AH-1RO Dracula 
Proposed version for Romania.
AH-1Z King Cobra 
AH-1Z offered under Turkey's ATAK program; selected for production, but later canceled when Bell and Turkey could not reach an agreement on production.[citation needed]

Operators

Template:ROC-TW
Template:TUR
Template:USA

Specifications (AH-1W)

File:Cobra Front 2.jpg
Profile of U.S. Marines AH-1W carrying full armament

Data from The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
  • Length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
  • Disc area: 530.83 ft² (168.1 m²)
  • Empty weight: 10,920 lb (4,953 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 14,750 lb (6,690 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700 turboshaft, 1,680shp (1,300 kW) each
  • Rotor systems: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor

Performance

Armament

  • M197 3-barreled 20 mm "Gatling-style" cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)
  • 2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 rockets - Mounted in LAU-68C/A (7 shot) or LAU-61D/A (19 shot) launchers
  • 5 in (127mm) Zuni rockets - 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers
  • TOW Missiles - Up to 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint
  • AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles - Up to 8 missiles mounted in two 4-round M272 missile launchers, one on each outboard hardpoint
  • AIM-9 Sidewinder Anti-Aircraft Missiles - 1 mounted on each outboard hardpoint (total of 2)


References

  1. ↑ USMC HQ AH-1W Cobra page, accessed September 11, 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Huey_Cobra
  3. ↑ Donald, David. Modern Battlefield Warplanes. AIRTime Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-880588-76-5.
  4. ↑ AH-1 Super Cobra, U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  5. ↑ PMA-276 - USMC Light/Attack Helicopter Upgrade Program. Headquarters Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  6. ↑ LtGen John Castellaw (2007). "2007 Marine Aviation Plan". Headquarters Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  7. ↑ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Military Aircraft, page 148. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
  • Gunston, B.; Spick, M. (1986). Modern Fighting Helicopters. New York: Crescent Books, 104-05. ISBN 0-517-61349-2. 
  • (2004) International Air Power Review, Volume 12. AIRtime Publishing. ISBN 1-880588-77-3. 
  • Nolan, Keith, W. "Into Lao's, operation Lam Son 719 and Dewey Canyon II." l986. Presidio Press. An account of the US Army's final offensive of the Vietnam War, in 1971.

External links

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See also

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Bell Aircraft/Bell Helicopters

Fighter aircraft: YFM-1 · P-39 · P-59 · P-63 · XP-77 · XP-83

Commercial Helicopters: 47 · 204 · 205 · 206 · 210 · 212 · 214 · 222 · 230 · 407 · 412 · 417 · 427 · 429 · 430

Military Helicopters: H-13 · UH-1 · 207 · 209 · AH-1 · 309 · YAH-63 · OH-58 · ARH-70

Tiltrotors: V-22 · BA609 · TR918 · QTR

Experimental aircraft: X-1 · X-2 · X-5 · X-20 X-22 · XV-3 · XV-15 · 533 ·

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