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The 'Bell AH-1 SuperCobra' is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the US Army's AH-1 Cobra. The twin Cobra family includes the 'AH-1J SeaCobra', the 'AH-1T Improved SeaCobra', and the 'AH-1W SuperCobra'. 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.

Contents

Development

Operational history

Variants

Single-engine

Twin-engine

Operators

Specifications

AH-1J SeaCobra

AH-1W SuperCobra

References

External links

Related content

Development

At the same time, despite the Army's preference for the AAFSS – for which Bell Helicopter was not selected to compete – Bell stuck with their own idea of a smaller and lighter gunship. In January 1965 Bell invested $1 million to proceed with a new design.
Mating the proven transmission, rotor system, and the T53 turboshaft engine of the UH-1 with the design philosophy of the Sioux Scout, Bell produced the Model 209.^[1]

An AH-1T Sea Cobra prepares to land aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo JimaA (LPH 2).

In Vietnam, events were also advancing in favor of the Model 209. Attacks on US forces were increasing, and by the end of June 1965 there were already 50,000 US ground troops in Vietnam.
1965 was also the deadline for AAFSS selection, but the program was stuck in technical difficulties and political bickering. The US Army needed an interim gunship for Vietnam and it asked five companies to provide a quick solution. Submissions came in for armed variants of the Boeing-Vertol CH-47A, Kaman UH-2, Piasecki 16H Pathfinder, Sikorsky S-61, and Bell 209.
On 3 September 1965, Bell rolled out the prototype, and four days later it made its maiden flight, only eight months from the go-ahead. In April 1966, the Model 209 won an evaluation against the other rival helicopters. Then the US Army signed the first production contract for 110 aircraft.

Operational history

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

During Operation Desert Storm, the Cobras and SeaCobras deployed in a support role. Approximately 78 Marine Cobras flew 1,273 sorties with no combat losses and only one noncombat loss.
Cobra helicopter gunships were also used widely by the Israeli Air Force in Operation Peace for Galilee to destroy Syrian armor and fortification. IAF Cobras destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles, including many of the modern Soviet T-72 main battle tanks.
Iranian AH-1J SeaCobras participated in air combat with Iraqi Mi-24s on several separate occasions during the Iran-Iraq War. The results of these engagements are disputed, in a document titled "AH-1W Air Combat Maneuver Training -- Why It Must Be Reinstated" in 1992 by Major R. M. Brady, it is cited that "Iranian AH-1Js engaged Iraqi MI-8 Hip and MI-24 Hind helicopters. Unclassified sources report that the Iranian AH-1 pilots achieved a 10:1 kill ratio over the Iraqi helicopter pilots during these engagements (1:5). Additionally, Iranian AH-1 and Iraqi fixed wing aircraft engagements also occurred." Others claim that in the entire 8-year conflict, 10 Iranian AH-1Js were lost in combat, compared to 6 Iraqi Mi-24. The skirmishes are described as fairly evenly matched in another source.^[2] Iranian AH-1Js are still operating today and have undergone indigenous upgrade programs. In 1988, two MiG-23s operated by Soviet forces shot down a pair of Iranian AH-1Js that had strayed into western Afghan airspace, after a prolonged aerial engagement.
The Pakistan Army has also used the AH-1 as its primary gunship helicopter and has put it good use 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.
AH-1 Cobras continue to operate with the US military, by the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marine Corps' stated reasons for continuing to use the Cobra is that it is simpler to maintain than the Apache, and has a smaller shipboard footprint. The AH-1W also utilizes a more diverse array of ordnance compared to the Apache. USMC Cobras have served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

Profile of U.S. Marines AH-1W carrying full armament

Variants

Single-engine

: For AH-1G, AH-1Q through AH-1S/P/E/F and other single-engine variants, see AH-1 Cobra.

Twin-engine

;AH-1J SeaCobra :
;AH-1J International : Export version of the AH-1J SeaCobra.
;AH-1T Improved SeaCobra :
;AH-1W SuperCobra : ("Whiskey Cobra")
;AH-1Z Viper : ("Zulu Cobra"), in conjunction with the UH-1Y Venom upgrade
;Model 309 King Cobra : Experimental version powered by two engines.
;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 cancelled when Bell and Turkey could not reach an agreement on production.
;Panha 2091 : unlicensed Iranian upgrade of the AH-1J International.

Operators

for operators of AH-1G, AH-1Q through AH-1S/P/E/F and other single-engine variants.
;

★ Islamic Republic of Iran Army received 202 AH-1J Internationals. An unknown number of the Panha 2091, an unlicensed, locally-made upgrade of AH-1J serve with the army and Revolutionary Guards.
;

★ Republic of China Army received 63 AH-1W.
;

★ Turkish Army operates 9 AH-1W, upgrade pending.
;

★ United States Marine Corps has approximately 269 AH-1Ws, delivered and pending delivery of the newer AH-1Z.

★
★ HMLA-167, New River

★
★ HMLA-169, Camp Pendleton

★
★ HMLA-267, MCAS Camp Pendleton

★
★ HMLA-269, New River

★
★ HMLA-367, MCAS Camp Pendleton

★
★ HMLA-369, Camp Pendleton

★
★ HMLA/T-303, Camp Pendleton

★ United States Navy used 7 AH-1Ws for test and evaluation purposes on behalf of the USMC

Specifications

AH-1J SeaCobra

AH-1W SuperCobra

References

1. Donald, David: ''Modern Battlefield Warplanes''. AIRtime Publishing Inc, 2004. ISBN 1-880588-76-5
2. Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf Database from ''ACIG Journal''


★ Modern Fighting Helicopters, , B., Gunston, Crescent Books, 1986, ISBN 0-517-61349-2

★ International Air Power Review, Volume 12, , , , AIRtime Publishing, 2004, 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

★ Bell Helicopter Textron - AH-1Z page

★ USMC Cobra page

★ AH-1 Super Cobra on Navy.mil

★ AH-1 Cobra page on GlobalSecurity.org

★ AH-1W/AH-1Z SuperCobra on Army-Technology.com

★ AH-1 Cobra page on fas.org

★ AH-1 Cobra page on GlobalAircraft.org

★ AH-1W Air Combat Maneuver Training on GlobalSecurity.org

★ AH-1 Cobra briefing room on AirCav.com

★ AH-1 HueyCobra page on Rotorhead.org

★ AH-1 Cobra page on TopFighters.com

★ AH-1 Cobra Photo Galleries on MidwaySailor.com

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