Bell AH-1 Cobra

ppearing in 1965 as an ‘interim’ armed helicopter escort, the Bell Model 209 HueyCobra was

derived from the UH-1, retaining its powerplant, transmission and rotor, but introducing a new. slimmer fuselage with the now-standard ‘gunship’ configuration of stepped tandem cockpits, Bell produced some 1,100 AH-IGs for US Army service in Vietnam The US Army’s Cobra fleet underwent several upgrades over its service life. In 1989 the designation AH-1F was adopted for the final production-stan­dard aircraft, grouping together the changes and ‘improvements adopted by the preceding AH-1P, AH-lE and Modernised AH-lS Cobras These aircraft have a ‘flat-plate’ canopy, TOW sighting system nose turret, exhaust suppressor and composite main rotor blades with tapered tips. Primary armament is four BGM-71 TOW missiles and a chin-mounted M-197 20-mm cannon. Some AH-1 Fs were upgraded with the NTS/CTlite sight, in place of the earlier day­time-only M65 system.

The AH-1 has been largely replaced by the AH-64 in US service, but some are still active with ANG and Reserve units. The AH-1 F was built under licence in Japan by Fuji, anc Bell AH-IF/Ss have been exported to Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, South Korea, and Thailand and Turkey,

Bell went on to develop a twin-engined version of the AH-1, chiefly for :he US Navy and Marine Corps, The first example, the AH-1J of 1970 led to 1977’s АН-IT and then to the AH-IW SuperCobra

which the the only currently active variant. A total of 19A AH-1Ws were convened for the USMC from exist’ng AH-1T airframes, between 1986 and ;998. The ‘Whisky Cobra’ is powered by two T700-GE-401 turooshafts, has a stretched fuselage and tail, and distinct ve bulged cheek fairings to accommodate updated avionics. The AH-1VV is the primary assault helicopter in Marine Corps service and has oeen exported to Taiwan (63) and Turkey (nine). Bell is now offering an affordaole ‘multi-role’ version of the AH-1W with all guided weapons capability removed, as the MH-1W,

The US Marines plan to upgrade 180 AH-IVVs to AH-1Z standard, by fitting a four-bladed main rotor, uprated T700-GE-401 engines, digital cockpit systems, integrated helmet-mounted sight, AGM-114 HeHfire missiles and an all-new Lockheed Martin Target Sight System (with a laser designator). The first AH-1Z flew on 7 December 2000. Turkey plans to acquire up to 145 similar aircraft, known as AH-1W KingCobras, while another version of the AH-1Z has been offered to Australia as the ARH-1Z.

Specification: Bell Helicopter AH-IW Powerplant: two 1285-kW(1,723-shp>

General Electric T70O-GE 401 terboshafts Dimensions: main rotor diameter U. B3 m {48 ft); ength overall, rotors turning 17.68 m |58ft| and fuselage 13.87 m (45 ft Б in); height ovcral 4 44 Ti(14 ft 7 inj Weights: empty 4353 kg (10,920 lb|; maximum take-eff 6691 kg (14,750 lb)

Performance: maximum Isve spaed ‘clean’ a: see level 282 kmh (175 mph); service ceiling 4270 m (14,000 ft); mnge 518 km (322 miles) with standard fuel

Armament: arm chin-mounted M 197 three – barrelled 20-mm cannon; maximum ordnarr. e 790 kg(1,741 lb)