AH-1W "Super Cobra"
| Name | AH-1W Super Cobra(Bell Helicopter TEXTRON, Inc. ) |
| Type | Attack helicopter |
| Year | 1983(AH-1W);1966(AH-1G) |
| Engine | Two General Electric T700-GE-401 Turboshaft : 1,723 shp. |
| Wingspan | 03.28 m |
| Length | 13.87 m (rotors turning) |
| Height | 04.44 m |
| Rotor Diameter | 14.63 m |
| Weight | 4,634 kg |
| Max. speed | 152 knots |
| Operational Range | 317 nm |
| Service ceiling | More than 4,720 m |
| Crew | 2 in tandem :(pilot in rear, copilot/gunner in front) |
| Armament | One M197 three barrel 20
mm gun : (mounted under the nose with 750 round ammo container)
-General Electric GTK4A/A Universal turret
or General Electric M18E1 pod (7.62mm General Electric M134 Minigun rotary six-barrel machine gun) Underwing attachments for four TOW missiles,
eight Hellfire missiles, or one AIM-9L LAU-61A, LAU-68A, LAU-68A/A, LAU-68B/A,
LAU-69A multiple rocket launchers (70mm unguided rockets), CBU-55B fuel/air
explosive device, M118 grenade dispenser, , BGM-71 TOW and AGM-114 Hellfire
AT missiles
|
In 1966, the DOD contracted with Bell Helicopter, Inc. (BHI) for 1,100
AH-1G aircraft, which logged more than 1 million flight hours in Vietnam.
Subsequently, the USMC desired a twin engine AH-1G; thus, the SEA COBRA
(AH-1J) was developed. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) then identified
a need for more armaments; thus, the AH-1T upgrade was initiated. This
aircraft had an extended tailboom and fuselage and an upgraded transmission
and engines.
The Marines depend on attack helicopters to provide close-in fire support
coordination in serial and ground escort operations. Such support is required
during amphibious ship-to-shore movements and subsequent shore operations
within the objective area. AH-1 is designed for the following tasks:
- Armed escort for helicopters carrying personnel and cargo
- Landing zone fire suppression support
- Visual armed reconnaissance
- Target marking and direction for high-performance attack aircraft
- Convoy escort and fire suppression for ground units
- Operations from air capable ships
- Point target attack of threatening armor
- Self-defense and protection of helicopters carrying personnel and cargo from threatening air-to-air weapon-equipped helicopters
The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The AH-1W is curretnly being outfitted with a Night Targeting System/Forward Looking Infrared Radar that provides laser rangefinding/designating and camera capabilities.
The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The Marine Corps deployed 4 of 6 active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. These helicopters destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and 2 antiaircraft artillery sites without the loss of any aircraft. The deployment required no additional augmentation to squadron support personnel and only one Bell Helicopter technical representative.
AH-1Z
A four bladed version of the AH-1W, designated the AH-1Z, is also under development; the addition of the extra blades dramatically improves the performance envelope of the AH-1W. Currently, the AH-1W is being retrofitted with a Kollsman-manufactured Night Targeting System (NTS). The aircraft is also undergoing a cockpit reconfiguration to allow for easier copilot/gunner access to the NTS. The upgrade of the AH-1W, including the new cockpit, is referred to as the Four Bladed AH-1W (4BW) and the upgrade of the UH-1N drive train is referred to as the Four Bladed UH-1N (4BN). Collectively, the 4BN/4BW effort constitutes the USMC H-1 Upgrades Program.The Marine Corps plans to upgrade 180 of the AH-1W gunships to the new
AH-1Z standard. The first flight is expected in October 2000, to be followed
by low-rate initial production beginning in February 2002, with deliveries
running from 2004 through 2013.
This program combines upgrades of two USMC H-1 aircraft: the AH-1W
Cobra attack helicopter and the UH-1N light utility helicopter. The common
element of the two will be identical twin engines and drive trains, including
a new four-bladed rotor previously developed but not fielded. In addition,
the AH-1 attack helicopter will gain a new integrated cockpit and night
targeting system. The upgrade will extend the life of the H-1 two models
well into the 21st century. The AH-1 will contribute to precision engagement
and full-dimensional protection; the UH-1 will provide support to focused
logistics.
Under the 4BW/4BN fully integrated cockpits will be phased into the
development after initial work on the drive system is underway. Initial
work will consist of simultaneous design efforts for the 4BW and 4BN. Major
modifications include: a new rotor system with semi-automatic bladefold
of the new composite rotor system, a new performance matched transmission,
a new 4-bladed tail rotor and drive system, a more effective stabilizer,
upgraded landing gear, tail pylon structural modifications and common cockpits.
This remanufacture will add 10,000 flight hours to 4BW/4BN airframes. The
4BW will increase aircraft maneuverability, speed, and payload (ordnance)
capability. The fully integrated cockpits will reduce operator workload
and improve situational awareness, thus increasing safety. It will provide
growth potential for future weapon systems and avionics, which would increase
mission effectiveness and survivability. As discrete systems have previously
been added to both aircraft, pilot workload has progressively worsened.
The cockpits will include integration of on-board mission planning, communications,
digital fire control, self navigation, night targeting, and weapons systems
in nearly identical crew stations reducing training requirements. The 4BN
effort will incorporate the 4BW rotor system into the UH-1N aircraft, as
well as a fully integrated cockpit common with the 4BW, maximizing commonality
between the two aircraft and providing needed improvements in crew and
passenger survivability, payload, power available, endurance, range, airspeed,
maneuverability and supportability.
The 4BN/4BW program was instituted in the summer of 1996 by combining
several lesser upgrades planned but not executed by the Marine Corps. Prior
to entry into EMD in September, 1996, DOT&E approved the program's
alternative LFT&E plan and USD(A&T) approved a waiver from full-up,
system-level LFT&E. The AH-1W will be tested full-up, system-level;
the UH-1N received a waiver from full-up, system-level testing. The H-1
Upgrade ORDs require that both helicopters be tolerant to impacts by 12.7mm
rounds and have crashworthy enhancements. Additionally, the drive components
of the AH-1W should be tolerant to 23mm rounds.
The H-1 Upgrade has the most comprehensive and realistic aircraft LFT&E
program approved to date. The program will include full-up, system-level
testing of an AH-1W and testing of all but the tail (which is common to
both aircraft) of the UH-1N. It will explore in detail various potential
kill mechanisms related to the expected threat. The LFT&E program is
integrated fully into the systems engineering effort and should yield a
reasonable opportunity to incorporate improvements if deficiencies are
found.
Source-USMC