Modern-Aviation

The Republic of Korea Army obtained eight AH-1J Cobras in 1978 and as of January 2010 three are in service.

The US Navy uses seven AH-1Ws for test and rating purposes on behalf of the USMC. The Marine Corps took delivery of three upgraded AH-1s from Bell in February 2008. Bell received a contract for 15 upgraded aircraft (11 UH-1Ys and four AH-1Zs) in September 2008 and delivered 20 upgraded H-1 helicopters (14 UH-1Ys and six AH-1Zs) in 2008.

In September 2008, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) ordered 46 AH-1Zs, bringing the total number of orders to 226.

The US Navy ordered 16 Lot 6 H-1 helicopters (five AH-1Zs and 11 UH-1Ys) in March 2009 totalling the entire contract to produce 65 upgraded H-1 aircraft (17 AH-1Zs and 48 UH-1Ys). Bell delivered six AH-1Zs and 17 UH-1Ys in March 2009.

The US Navy awarded a contract for 25 Lot 9 helicopters (15 new UH-1Ys, seven new AH-1Zs and three remanufactured AH-1Zs) in October 2012. The Lot 10 contract, which includes 15 UH-1Y and ten AH-1Z helicopters, was awarded in December 2012. Bell was awarded a contract for 26 Lot 12 H-1 new build helicopters (15 UH-1Ys and 11 AH-1Zs) for the USMC in March 2014. A contract for 24 Lot 11 H-1 new build helicopters (12 UH-1Ys and 12 AH-1Zs) was placed in May 2014.

Turkey requested a possible foreign military sale of three AH-1W attack helicopters and associated equipment in October 2011.

A major upgrade of the Bell Super Cobra known as the H-1 programme is underway. The programme calls for the remanufacture of the US Marine Corps fleet of 180 AH-1W Super Cobra and 100 UH-1N utility helicopters to an advanced four-bladed configuration, which will operate to beyond 2020. An upgraded cockpit configuration allows easy co-pilot access to the night targeting system (NTS). These are also remanufactured with 'zero-time' airframes comprising advanced technology.

The original two-bladed semi-rigid, teetering rotor system has been replaced with a four-bladed, hingeless, bearingless rotor system. The improvement in flight characteristics provided by the four-bladed configuration has led to increases in flight envelope, maximum speed, vertical rate-of-climb, payload and rotor vibration level.
The USMC subsequently decided on new-build rather than remanufactured UH-1Y helicopters and, in February 2008, awarded Bell a contract for the new build of 40 of the proposed 189 AH-1Z helicopters. Four additional helicopters were ordered in September 2008.

First flight of the AH-1Z took place in December 2000. The AH-1W entered low-rate initial production (LRIP) in October 2003. Five AH-1W helicopters were remanufactured to AH-1Z standard and took part in flight testing at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, US. Sea trials in May 2005 included the first shipboard landing on USS Bataan, Wasp Class amphibious assault ship.

Developmental testing was completed in February 2006 and two test aircraft began operational evaluation (OPEVAL) with the USMC in May 2006. The first production AH-1Z helicopter was delivered to the USMC in January 2007. Phase II of OPEVAL began in February 2008, and the OPEVAL was completed in October 2010. In November 2010, the AH-1Z was approved for the full-rate production. Initial operating capability of the AH-1Z Cobra took place in February 2011.

The Turkish Army selected the AH-1Z King Cobra in July 2000 with a request for 50 out of 145 helicopters required. In May 2004, it was announced that the acquisition was to be cancelled. The helicopters were to be built in Turkey by Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The government of the Republic of Korea requested a possible foreign military sale of 36 AH-1Z helicopters in September 2012. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved a possible foreign military sale of 15 AH-1Zs to Pakistan in April 2015.

Northrop Grumman has developed the integrated avionics systems for the AH-1Z. The systems include two mission computers and an automatic flight control system with four-axis stability control augmentation system. Each crew station has two 8in x 6in multifunction displays and one 4.2in x 4.2in dual-function display, based on active-matrix, liquid-crystal colour technology.

The displays are supplied by L-3 Ruggedised Command and Control Solutions. Smiths Aerospace supplied the weapon stores control and data transfer system.
The communications suite combines the new US Navy RT-1824 integrated radio, UHF/VHF, COMSEC and modem in a single unit. The navigation suite includes an embedded GPS inertial (EGI) and a low-airspeed air data subsystem, which allows weapons delivery when hovering and a digital map.

In June 2002, Thales Avionics' TopOwl helmet-mounted display system was chosen for the USMC AH-1Z. The first system was delivered in January 2003. TopOwl, also fitted on Tiger, NH90 and Rooivalk helicopters, has integrated Gen IV image intensifier and FLIR capability and provides transition from day to night use at the push of a button.The Super Cobra can carry both TOW and Hellfire anti-armour missiles and is being qualified to carry the Maverick missile. The Raytheon BGM-71 TOW missile has a range of more than 3km and semi-automatic command-to-line-of-sight guidance.

The AGM-114 Hellfire missile is manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is equipped with a semi-active laser seeker and has a range of 7km. The Super Cobra has fire-and-forget capability when firing the Hellfire missile in co-operative mode with laser target illumination.

The Super Cobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify both the Sidewinder air-to-air missile and the Sidearm anti-radiation missile. Both missiles can use the same LAU-7 rail launcher. Sidearm has a range of more than 15km. AIM-9L Sidewinder is an all-aspect, short-range, air-to-air missile produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The missile has a range of 15km.

The Super Cobra can fire the Hydra family of unguided 70mm rockets or the larger 127mm Zuni rocket bombs. Since 2008, all units have been armed with the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS), a guided version of the Hydra. The US Army reopened the competition for the APKWS in September 2005 and BAE Systems was selected as the prime contractor on 27 April 2006. A $96.1m contract was awarded to BAE systems by the US Army for design and development of APKWS II laser-guided rockets.

The Super Cobra carries a three-barrel, 20mm Gatling gun for close-range (up to 2km) engagement and 750 rounds of ammunition. With the gun in a fixed-forward position, the pilot can aim by manoeuvring the helicopter. Either crew member can slave the turret to the helmet-mounted sight and aim the gun by looking at the target.

General characteristics
Crew: two: pilot, co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
Length: 53 ft 5 in (16.3 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 43 ft 11 in (13.4 m)
Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
Empty weight: 6,610 lb (2,998 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,540 kg)
Total engine output: 1,530 shp (1,125 kW) limited by helicopter drivetrain
Rotor systems: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor
Fuselage length: 45 ft 9 in (13.5 m)
Stub wing span: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400 (PT6T-3 Twin-Pac) turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,342 kW)

Performance
Never exceed speed: 190 knots (219 mph, 352 km/h)
Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
Range: 311 nmi (358 mi, 576 km)
Service ceiling: 10,500 ft (3,215 m)
Rate of climb: 1,090 ft/min (5.54 m/s)

Armament
20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in the M97 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)
2.75 in (70 mm) Mk 40, or Hydra 70 rockets – 14 rockets mounted in a variety of launchers
5 in (127 mm) Zuni rockets – 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers
AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles – 1 mounted on each hardpoint

AH-1W SuperCobra
Head-on view of a USMC AH-1W carrying full armament
Data from Verier, Modern Fighting Aircraft, International Directory of Military Aircraft

General characteristics
Crew: 2: pilot, co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
Length: 58 ft (17.7 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6 m)
Height: 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m)
Disc area: 1809 ft² (168.1 m²)
Empty weight: 10,200 lb (4,630 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 14,750 lb (6,690 kg)
Rotor systems: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor
Fuselage length: 45 ft 7 in (13.9 m)
Stub wing span: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-401 turboshaft, 1,690 shp (1,300 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 190 knots (218 mph, 352 km/h)
Range: 317 nmi (365 mi, 587 km)
Service ceiling: 12,200 ft (3,720 m)
Rate of climb: 1,620 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

Armament
20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)
2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 or APKWS II rockets – Mounted in LAU-68C/A (7 shot) or LAU-61D/A (19 shot) launchers
5 in (127 mm) Zuni rockets – 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers
TOW missiles – Up to 8 missiles mounted in two 4-round XM65 missile launchers, one on each outboard 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)