AH-1 Cobra

Overview:

The AH-1 Cobra (company designation: Bell 209) is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois. The AH-1 is also sometimes referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake. The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with several other users. The AH-1 twin engine versions remain in service with United States Marine Corps as the service's primary attack helicopter. Closely related with the development of the Bell AH-1 is the story of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois — predecessor of the modern helicopter, icon of the Vietnam War and still one of the most numerous helicopter types in service today. The UH-1 made the theory of air cavalry practical, as the new tactics called for US forces to be highly mobile across a wide area. Unlike before, they would not stand and fight long battles, and they would not stay and hold positions. Instead, the plan was that the troops carried by fleets of UH-1 Hueys would range across the country, to fight the enemy at times and places of their own choice. It soon became clear that the unarmed troop helicopters were vulnerable against ground fire from Việt Cộng and North Vietnamese troops, particularly as they came down to drop their troops in a landing zone. Without friendly support from artillery or ground forces, the only way to pacify a landing zone was from the air, preferably with a machine that could closely escort the transport helicopters, and loiter over the landing zone as the battle progressed. By 1962 a small number of armed UH-1As were used as escorts, armed with multiple machine guns and rocket mounts. Pakistan was supplied with around 20 AH-1F gunships in 1983, these were later upgraded with the C-NITE thermal imaging package. The recent insurgencies in the Waziristan regions have seen Pakistani AH-1 gunships in action against Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters as well as their tribal allies. Pakistani gunships have also been used in operations against tribal uprisings in the Balochistan province, supporting the Pakistan Army against well-armed Bugti and Marri tribesmen under the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and the Balochistan Liberation Army, since the mid-2000s.

Specifications:

Role

• Attack helicopter.

First Flight

• 7 September 1965

Introduction

• 1967

Status

• Active service.

Primary Users

• United States Army.
• Japan Self Defense Forces.
• Republic of Korea Army.
• Israeli Air Force.
• Pakistan Air force.

Produced

• 1967-present.

Number Built

• 1,116

Unit Cost

• US$11.3 million (1995).

Crew

• 1 pilot, 1 CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
  
• Total: 2
  

Length

• 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m).

Height

• 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m).

Empty Weight

• 6,600 lb (2,993 kg).

Max Takeoff Weight

• 10,000 lb (4,500 kg).

Powerplant

• 1× Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW).

Rotor System

• 2 blades on main rotor.

Weapons

• M197 3-barreled 20 mm "Gatling-style" cannon.
• Hydra 70 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets - 7 rockets mounted in the M260 launcher or 19 rockets in the M261 launcher.
• TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint.