Bell AN-1 "Hugh Cobra" and "Sea Cobra" / Helicopters. Illustrated Encyclopedia

Combat use

Wreckage of a Cobra shot down during the invasion of Grenada
Cobras with red stars on their fuselages imitate enemy air in US air defense exercises

The Vietnam War (1957-1975, USA) - from 1967 to 1973, the American side irretrievably lost about 300 Cobra helicopters. In 1971, during the six-week operation Lam Son 719, American AH-1s destroyed 6 and knocked out 8 North Vietnamese tanks, at the cost of 26 downed and 158 damaged Cobras. Cobras played a decisive role in the battle for the city of An Loc in the spring of 1972, destroying 1,040 North Vietnamese soldiers and 18 tanks.
Baluchistan Conflict (1973-1978) - The Pakistani Army used these helicopters in battles against Baloch separatists.
Iranian-Kurdish conflict (1979, Iran) - On August 23, 1979, the Kurds shot down an Iranian Cobra helicopter with small arms fire.
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988, Iran) - in September 1981, during the two-day Operation Eighth Imam, the Iraqis shot down nine Iranian AH-1J helicopters. Cobras were successfully used against armored vehicles, for example, in November 1982 alone they destroyed at least 106 Iraqi tanks and 70 armored personnel carriers. There are cases when groups of 4 AH-1s managed to stop the advance of entire Iraqi tank brigades for several hours. In air battles, Iranian Cobras shot down two Iraqi supersonic aircraft - a Su-20 fighter-bomber and a MiG-21 fighter [ source not specified 149 days
], as well as 25 helicopters. At least 4 AH-1Js were shot down by Iraqi MiG-21s and 1 MiG-23. By the middle of the war, the number of combat-ready Iranian AH-1 helicopters decreased from 205 to 80-90 units. The best Iranian helicopter pilot, Ali Akbar Shiroudi, was killed in Cobra; his helicopter was hit by a 115-mm shell from an Iraqi T-62 tank. On July 14, 1982, an Iranian Cobra was shot down by a Malyutka anti-tank missile.
Civil War in Lebanon (Israel) - During the war, three Israeli Cobras were shot down. In the first flight against Syrian equipment, two Cobras destroyed three T-62 tanks and one truck. In total, during the conflict, the Cobras destroyed dozens of armored vehicles, including a number of [ how many?
] modern T-72 tanks.
US invasion of Grenada (1983, USA) - during the operation, two American AH-1Ts were shot down by the enemy.
Turkish-Kurdish conflict (since 1984, Turkey) - four Turkish AH-1Ws were shot down by Kurdish rebels until 2011. On May 13, 2016, the Kurds, using Igla MANPADS, shot down another, fifth Super-Cobra, and two crew members were killed.
Operation Praying Mantis (1988, USA) - American Cobras sank three Iranian patrol boats, while one AH-1T was shot down.
Interception September 28, 1988 - two Iranian AH-1J helicopters were shot down by Soviet MiG-23 fighters after violating the Afghan air border.
Gulf War (1991, USA) - 145 helicopters were deployed, total flight time was 8,000 hours, more than 1,000 ATGMs were fired, 3 AH-1Fs were lost
Peacekeeping operation in Somalia (UNOSOM I, 1992-1993, USA)
War in Afghanistan (since 2001, USA) - took limited participation. From 2009 to 2012, four AH-1W helicopters are known to have been lost.
Iraq War (since 2003, USA) - during the first 25 days of the operation, 46 of the 58 Cobra helicopters of the USMC received combat damage. In total, at least 8 AH-1W helicopters were lost during the war. On March 21, 2003, an American AH-1W helicopter accidentally destroyed an American M1 Abrams tank with a missile.
Waziristan War (since 2004, Pakistan) - the Pakistanis deployed three squadrons of AH-1F helicopters. Many helicopters were damaged, for example, in October 2009, 5 Cobras were shot down by enemy fire. It is known that during the entire war 9 Pakistani helicopters were shot down, but it is unclear whether Cobras were among them.
Second Lebanon War (2006, Israel)

Helicopter Bell AN-1 Cobra

Work on the creation of combat helicopters began in the United States after the end of the Korean War (1950-1953), during which the benefits of using multi-purpose and transport helicopters in combat operations were demonstrated in practice. In 1964, a new war began - in Vietnam, and the US Army had a need to develop a new helicopter, more suitable for military operations. Bell Helicopter Textron took on the development of such a combat vehicle.

Even before the escalation of the armed conflict, she proactively developed the concept of a combat helicopter, during which the optimal layout of the helicopter structure and cockpit, as well as the placement of small arms, cannons and other weapons were determined. New ideas were successfully tested during testing of the light experimental Bell Model 207 Sioux Scout helicopter, which itself was a development of the OH-13S Sioux model. When creating the design of the new rotorcraft, designated Bell AN-1 Cobra, the units and systems of the well-proven multi-purpose helicopter Iroquois (Bell UH-1 Iroquois) were actively used.

The first experimental Cobra was built at the beginning of 1965, and its first flight took place on September 7, 1965. In November 1966, a pre-production version of the helicopter flew. Deliveries of production vehicles, designated AH-1G, began in June 1967. In September of the same year they were already in Vietnam. The AN-1G's armament kit included machine guns, air cannons and missiles, which made the vehicle a powerful means of fire support for infantry on the battlefield and an effective means of combating enemy armored vehicles.

Read: M198 Towed 155mm Howitzer

The first modifications of the Cobra used an XM28 turret with two 7.62 mm Michigan machine guns with 4,000 rounds of ammunition or two 40 mm grenade launchers with 321 grenades (or a combination: one machine gun and one grenade launcher). Starting from the 101st helicopter, they began to install an underwing suspension control system on it, and from the 199th - a fire control system, a digital computer and a laser range finder.

Eight Tou anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) were suspended under the wing on external pylons. Cobras were widely used in military operations in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for direct support of ground troops, destruction of enemy armored vehicles, escorting transport helicopters, and conducting reconnaissance.

In total, 1,127 AH-1G helicopters were delivered to the US Army, the price of which varied from 500 thousand (first models) to 1.3 million dollars. The first Cobra models were subsequently refurbished. The AH-1Q modification was designed to combat armored vehicles. The cost of converting one machine reached $1 million. In 1973, eight helicopters were modernized. In 1974, the US Army signed a contract to convert an additional 290 helicopters armed with Tou ATGMs. AN-1S is a modification with a more powerful engine and increased take-off weight. There were many other modifications of the AN-1.

Read: General Dynamics F-111 fighter-bomber

Despite the fact that the actions of the Cobras in Vietnam were considered successful by the Pentagon, losses of helicopters could not be avoided. If the helicopter could still withstand being hit by bullets with a caliber of up to 12.7 mm and individual small-caliber projectiles, then a hit by a grenade or rocket (in particular the Soviet Strela) was guaranteed to lead to the death of the vehicle. The presence of a large number of air defense systems supplied by the Soviet Union to the Vietnamese, and Soviet military specialists who were fluent in these weapons, led to large losses of the AN-1. The Cobras had to fly in pairs so that if one of the vehicles was hit by air defense systems, the other could pick up the crew of the downed helicopter.

In order to increase survivability, Bell began installing a second engine on the AN-1. The first four twin-engine AN-1Js were sent to Vietnam in February 1971. Serial production of AN-1 helicopters in the USA ended in 1986. AN-1s took part in many local wars and conflicts, where they performed well, especially when operating in conditions of weak or largely suppressed enemy air defense. Thus, during the Arab-Israeli war in Lebanon in 1982, Israel used 12 AH-1S and 30 MD-500 helicopters armed with Tou ATGMs in combat operations against Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization. During the fighting, these helicopters made 130 combat missions and knocked out 29 tanks. 22 armored personnel carriers and 30 trucks. They even managed to shoot down one Syrian SA-342 Gazelle helicopter. The AN-1 was also used in the war with Iraq in 1991, together with the more modern American AN-64 Apache helicopter, where the Cobras suffered much fewer losses than the Apaches.

Read: Ohio-class nuclear submarines

Notes

Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2004-2005 / Paul Jackson. - Jane's Information Group, 2004. - P. 575-577. — 860 p. — ISBN 0-7106-2614-2.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 45. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 291. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 148. - ISBN 9781857438352.

Notes

Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2004-2005 / Paul Jackson. - Jane's Information Group, 2004. - P. 575-577. — 860 p. — ISBN 0-7106-2614-2.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 45. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 291. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 148. - ISBN 9781857438352.

Structures involved

The following commercial structures were involved in the production of components and assemblies of helicopters and related equipment:

General contractor

Helicopter overall/fuselage - Bell Helicopter Co., Fort Worth, Texas.

The largest subcontractors ordered by the general contractor ()

Fuel Tanks - US Rubber Co., Mishoka, Indiana;
Main rotor column - Menasco Manufacturing Co., Fort Worth, Texas;
Tail boom - AVCO Corp., Nashville, Tennessee;
Drive boxes—Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Co., Steel Products Engineering Division, Springfield, Ohio;
Propeller hub crossbars and swashplate - Murdock Machine and Engineering Co., Fort Worth, Texas;
Hydraulic Cylinders - Hydraulic Research Corp., Burbank, California;
Bonded panels - Whittaker Corp., Advanced Structures Division, Monrovia, California.

Suppliers of on-board equipment for government orders ()

Aircraft Engine - AVCO Corp., Lycoming Division, Stratford, Connecticut;
MA-1 Gyrocompass - General Electric Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lear-Siegler, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio;
Starter-Generator - General Electric Co., Erie, Pennsylvania;
Avionics - Collins Radio Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Aircraft Radio Corp., Boonton, N.J.; Republic Electronics Industries, Inc., Huntington, Long Island; Stewart-Warner Corp., Chicago, IL; Lapointe Industries, Inc., Rockville, CT.

Characteristics

AH-1J SeaCobra

Verier
Data ,
Modern Combat Aviation
,

General characteristics

Crew:
two: pilot, co-pilot – signal / gunner (VP)
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)
Maximum.
takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,540 kg)
Total engine power:
+1530 hp (1125 kW) limited helicopter transmission
Rotor systems
: 2 main rotor blades per 2, blades per tail rotor
Fuselage length:
45 ft 9 in (13.5 m)
Span Wing Plug:
10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Powerplant:
1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400 (PT6T-3 Twin-Pac) gas turbine, 1,800 hp (1,342 kW)

Play

190 kn (219 mph, 352 km/h)
152 kn (175 mph, 282 km/h)
Range:
311 NMI (358 miles, 576 km)
Ceiling:
10,500 ft (3,215 m)
Rate of ascent:
1,090 ft/min (5.54 m/s)

weapons

20 mm (0.787 in) M197 (750 rounds ammunition)
2.75 in (70 mm) Mk 40 or Hydra 70 missiles – 14 missiles mounted in various launchers
5 in (127 mm) Zuni missiles – 8 missiles in two launchers/A LAU-10D 4-round
AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles – 1 mounted on each HardPoint

AH-1W SuperCobra

Verier
Data ,
Modern Combat Aviation
,
International Directory of Military Aircraft
General Characteristics

Play

190 kn (218 mph, 352 km/h)
Range:
317 NMI (365 miles, 587 km)
Ceiling:
12,200 ft (3,720 m)
Rate of ascent:
1,620 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

weapons

20 mm (0.787 in) M197 (750 rounds ammunition)
2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 or APKWS II missiles – Mounted in LAU-68C/A (7 rounds) or LAU-61D/A shotgun launchers (19 rounds)
5 in (127 mm) Zuni missiles – 8 missiles in two launchers/A LAU-10D 4-round
TOW Missiles – Up to 8 missiles mounted in two XM65 4-round missile launchers, one on each HardPoint.
AGM-114 Hellfire missile – up to 8 missiles mounted in two M272 round 4-missile launchers, one on each hardpoint.
9 AIM-Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles - 1 mounted on each outboard HardPoint (2 in total)

Performance characteristics

Equipping the AN-1W 70 mm helicopter NAR suspension unit with an unguided Hydra missile with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Al-Assad Base, Iraq, November 2007.

The given characteristics correspond to the AH-1W

.
Data Source: Jane's
Specifications

Crew: 2 (pilot and operator)
Length: 17.68 m
Fuselage length:
13.87 m
Main rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Tail rotor diameter:
2.97 m
Fuselage width:
3.28 m (with wing)
Height: 4.44 m
Area swept by the main rotor: 168.11 m²
Chassis track:
2.24 m (skids)
Empty weight: 4,953 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 6,690 kg
Payload weight:
1,736 kg
Fuel mass in internal tanks: 946 kg
Fuel tank capacity:
1,128 l
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts
Engine power: 2 × 1,723 hp

(2 × 1,285 kW)

Flight characteristics

Maximum permissible speed: 352 km/h
Maximum speed: 282 km/h (at ground level)
Cruising speed: 278 km/h
Practical range: 518 km
Flight duration:
2 hours 48 minutes.
Service ceiling: 4,270 m
Static ceiling: using ground effect:
4,495 m
without ground effect:
915 m

Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s

Disc load: 39.8 kg/m²

Thrust-to-weight ratio: 226 W/kg (per transmission at maximum take-off weight)

Maximum operational overload:
+2.5/-0.5 g

Armament

Small arms and cannon: 1 × 20 mm three-barreled gun M197, 750 pat.
Guided missiles: Air-to-surface missiles: 8 × TOW or
AGM-114
2 × AGM-122 or

air-to-air missiles: 2 × AIM-9L

Unguided rockets:

4 × 19 × 70 mm Hydra 70 missiles in LAU-61A pods

4 × 7 × 70 mm Hydra 70 missiles in LAU-68/69 blocks

Bombs: 2 × CBU-55B

Design and development

The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as a temporary Gunship for the US Army for use during the Vietnam War. The Cobra shares the proven transmission, rotor system, and T53 turboshaft engine from the UH-1 Huey. In June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras were delivered. Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the US Army between 1967 and 1973, and Cobras logged more than a million hours of service in Vietnam.

The US Marine Corps was very interested in the AH-1G Cobra, but it preferred a twin-engine variant for increased safety in over-water operations, and also wanted a more powerful turret-mounted weapon. At first, the Department of Defense had ignored providing the Marines with a twin-engine version of the Cobra, in the hope that the commonality with the Army AH-1G would outweigh the advantages of the other engine attack. However, the Marines prevailed and awarded Bell a contract for 49 twin-engine AH-1J SeaCobras in May 1968. As an interim measure, the US Army accepted 38 AH-1Gs for the Marine Corps in 1969. The AH-1J also received a more powerful gun turret. It featured a three-barrel 20 mm XM197 cannon, which was based on the six-barrel M61 Vulcan cannon.

AH-1T Sea Cobra launching from amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima

The Marine Corps requested greater high-temperature load capacity for the Cobra in the 1970s. Bell is using systems from its 309 models to develop the AH-1T. This version had a stretched tail and fuselage with an upgraded gearbox and engines from the 309. Bell designed the AH-1T to be more reliable and easier to maintain in this area. The version was given full TOW missile capability with guidance systems and other sensors. An improved version known as the AH-1T+ with more powerful T700-GE-700 engines and modern avionics was offered to Iran in the late 1970s, but the overthrow of the Shah of Iran as a result of the sale was annulled.

In the early 1980s, the US Marine Corps was looking for a new navalized helicopter, but was denied funding to buy the AH-64 Apache by Congress in 1981. The Marines in turn pursued a more powerful version of the AH-1T. Other changes included modified fire control systems to carry and fire AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The new version was funded by Congress and designated AH-1W. Deliveries of AH-1W SuperCobras totaled 179 new helicopters built plus 43 AH-1TS upgrades.

The AH-1T+ demonstrator and AH-1W prototype were later tested with a new experimental composite four-blade main rotor system. The new system offered higher performance, reduced noise levels and improved combat damage tolerance. Without a USMC contract, Bell developed a new design in the AH-1Z with its own funds. By 1996, the Marines were again prevented from ordering the AH-64. Developing a naval version of the Apache would be expensive and it would likely be that the Marine Corps would be its only customer. Instead, they signed a contract to upgrade AH-1Ws to AH-1Zs.

The Viper Bell AH-1Z includes several design changes. The two wings of the redesigned AH-1Z stubs are larger each with the addition of wingtip stations for missiles such as the Sidewinder AIM-9. Each wing has two other stations of 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra missile pods, or AGM-114 Hellfire missile quad launchers. Longbow radar can be installed on Wingtip station. The AH-1W version will be retired from the Marine Corps in 2020.

Modifications of the AH-64 "Apache"

There are several modifications of this helicopter.

The AH-64A Apache is the very first production modification, one might say, the basic model of the machine.
AN-64S is a modernized basic helicopter. Modernization began in 1992; this program was closed in 1993. It does not have Longbow radar.
AH-64D Apache Longbow is the most advanced modification of the helicopter. It is easy to recognize visually: a mushroom-shaped Longbow millimeter-wave radar antenna is installed above the plane of rotation of the main rotor. The helicopter is also equipped with a more powerful T700-GE-701 C engine. The helicopter is equipped with Hellfire (“fire and forget”) missiles.
AH-64 Sea Going Apache is a modification of the helicopter for the Navy and Marine Corps, with anti-ship missiles.
WAH-64D - modification for the British Army, produced under license. It is equipped with production engines.

The Apache combat helicopter took part in many conflicts and always showed its best side. This machine is rightfully considered one of the most advanced second-generation combat helicopters. His debut took place in 1989 in Panama. Then there was the war in Iraq, Yugoslavia, the second invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Currently, this helicopter is in service in more than fifteen countries. Negotiations are underway to sell the car to several more customers. Most likely, the proven AH-64D will remain the main attack helicopter of the US Army for the next ten years.

Apache helicopter video

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uwHDZJCN8ro

https://youtube.com/watch?v=i5g53_wIfGI

Author of the article:

Nikiforov Vladislav

MODEL

The set is packaged in a standard box measuring 26x16x3.5 cm. The box is made of medium-hard cardboard, which will require reinforcement in case of shipment. Cellophane is not used to pack the box. The side flaps are sealed with tape. The front side contains a boxart (drawing) of a flying helicopter in camouflage coloring. On the side there are pictures with the contents, and on the back there is a paint scheme and samples of some colors. The contents are packaged in polyethylene bags that are sealed rather than closed with paper clips. The kit includes two gray sprue frames (plastic), one frame with a transparent part (lantern), instructions and decals. The instructions are black and white, in the form of a train folded like an accordion. There is no paint scheme or decal layout. Places for transferring decals are indicated directly in the assembly diagram. The instructions contain two photographs of the finished model and two photographs of the structural elements, the gun and the interior of the gunner's cockpit. The decal is basic, with a minimum of technical details. This kit allows you to assemble one version of a US Marine Corps helicopter. There are no dashboards or remote controls. The decal has no defects or yellowing, the varnish is transparent and invisible. The cockpit glazing is made in one piece. That is, the possibility of making the cabin open is excluded. The glass is free of defects, clouding, clean and transparent. It is a little thick, but when viewed from the outside it is not very noticeable. The plastic is light gray, the surface is glossy. The jointing is external, which is typical for models of the 80s of the twentieth century. No serious defects were found. There are some minor dents in the plastic here and there. But there are few of them. The detailing is poor. Pilot seats do not have seat belts. The instrument panels have a relief. There are no pilot figures. Suspended weapons include 8 Hellfire missiles, and two units of unguided missiles.

The effective use of helicopters in Korea has created a real helicopter boom throughout the world. The military's views on the role of rotorcraft in the armed forces have also changed. The number of helicopters purchased has increased sharply, but the scope of their application has remained almost unchanged: transporting soldiers and cargo, search and rescue operations and evacuation of the wounded. Taking into account the experience of the Korean War, relying on the design of the successful Model 47 machine, the UH-1 was developed - the famous “Hugh”, which was destined to become the “father” of the world’s first specialized attack helicopter. The armed model "Hugh" - UH-1C turned out to be quite successful. But still, it was a modification of a transport vehicle. The pilot had limited visibility, the cargo compartment was clearly superfluous, and the flight characteristics left much to be desired. The company, at its own peril and risk, without military support, began developing a specialized combat helicopter. By assembling a fundamentally new helicopter, the developers, as they say, hit the bull's eye. Two crew members were seated in tandem, the gunner in the front seat, the pilot in the back. A narrow fuselage with small arms in the front, a wing of small span - all these technical solutions determined the appearance of combat helicopters in many countries for many years. Only the appearance of the Russian Ka-50 changed the appearance of the combat helicopter.

To save time during the development of the demonstrator, the dynamic systems of the Bell 47 helicopter were used. The Model 207 Sioux Scout underwent joint flight testing with the US Army at Fort Benning in April 1963. The tests were successful, although the military noted the weakness of the weapons (2x7.62 mm machine gun on a movable turret) and the need to replace the piston engine with a gas turbine. Testing of the Sioux Scout prompted the US Army to announce a competition to develop an advanced fire support system, the AAFSS. The favorite of this program was the YAH-56 Cheyenne rotorcraft. In the meantime, research and development work on the Cheyenne was underway, the tasks of fire support for the ground forces were assigned to the armed Hugh - UH-1C. Smart heads from among us allowed us to doubt the correctness of such a decision. “Cheyenne” was a very complex product with a high degree of technical risk, and it was not possible to count on its rapid entry into the army, and the UH-1C, both in terms of firepower and flight characteristics, clearly did not reach a full-fledged combat helicopter. The conclusion suggested itself: to make an intermediate option, making maximum use of the well-developed Hugh components and systems. Life has shown the correctness of this approach. The first estimates for an “intermediate” combat helicopter were ready in August 1963. That same month, fighting began in Vietnam. A real helicopter war broke out in the jungle. The main load was borne by various modifications of the Hugh. Helicopters landed troops, conducted reconnaissance, transported cargo, and supported troops with fire. This is where the shortcomings of the UH-1C as a weapons platform became apparent. The Pentagon quickly drew conclusions, and in December 1964 a contract was signed to develop a combat helicopter with an empty weight of 3270 kg and a maximum speed of 370 km/h within six months.

Six months passed from the start of development to the rollout of the first prototype helicopter, as stipulated in the contract with the US Army. In September, chief pilot Bill Quinlan first flew a helicopter, designated UH-1H - another modification of the Hugh. But soon the US Army command identified a new class of helicopters - attack, and the UH-1H, according to this classification, became known as the AH-1G

(Attac Helicopter - 1 Gunship), and unofficially - "Hugh Cobra". Such a short development period for the Cobra is explained by the maximum possible use of proven design solutions from the well-developed UH-1. Externally, the AH-1G is radically different from its progenitor, the UH-1B. However, the propulsion system, transmission and tail boom have been preserved. The main rotor (RO) underwent minimal changes: higher speed profiles were used at the end parts of the blades and the stabilizing rods characteristic of early models of Bell helicopters were removed. The very design of the semi-rigid two-bladed propeller, which has a hub with common horizontal and axial hinges of the “door hinge” type, has not changed. But the front part of the fuselage was designed anew. During its development, the experience of creating the Warrior and Sioux Scout was fully taken into account. The gunner and pilot were placed one behind the other in a narrow cockpit with excellent visibility. As a result, the width of the fuselage was increased to 90 cm. The reduction in drag made it possible, with the same engine as the Hugh, to increase the maximum speed, although the weight of the empty helicopter increased.

According to the designers, both the pilot and the gunner could control the helicopter. This decision gave rise to certain problems, since the main place in the front cockpit was occupied by the sight and weapon controls. I had to replace the central cyclic step lever with a short side handle located on the right. The experimental and first production helicopters used pantograph sights, then their place in the center of the cockpit was taken by a bulky gyro-stabilized monocular optical sight. During retraining, the pilots quickly became accustomed to using the side stick and did not experience any particular inconvenience, especially since it was not often possible to control a helicopter from the front cockpit. The control system is an irreversible booster, with double redundancy. A low aspect ratio wing is installed in the middle part of the fuselage, unloading the NV with suspension units for replaceable weapons. The experimental Cobra had a retractable ski landing gear (an extremely rare case, if not the only one, in the history of helicopter manufacturing).

Flight tests of the Cobra showed that retracting the landing gear only slightly improves flight characteristics, but makes the vehicle more complex and heavier. Subsequent Cobras were equipped with a non-retractable ski chassis, like the Hugh. The Lycoming T53-L13 turboshaft engine developed power of 1,400 hp, but it was impossible to fully transfer it to the HB, since the transmission provided only 1,100 hp. To reduce infrared radiation, the nozzle was enclosed in a casing in which air was mixed with exhaust gases. Particulate filters were installed at the inlet of the engine air intakes. The main standard armament of the experimental Cobra was a six-barreled Minigun machine gun of rifle caliber on the ventral turret. The placement of the firing point was successful, but in terms of the weight of a second salvo it was a step back compared to the UH-1C, which in its combat configuration was armed with two machine guns (including large-caliber ones) and one 40-mm automatic grenade launcher. True, the AH-1 shooting point had large firing angles, but one machine gun was clearly not enough. Based on the TAT-102A turret installed on an experimental helicopter, the company began developing a unified XM-28 turret in three versions: with two six-barreled 7.62 mm machine guns, with two 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, and combined with a six-barreled machine gun and 40 mm grenade launcher The ammunition was 4,000 rounds for each machine gun and 321 grenades. The turret's firing angles were 230 degrees in azimuth and from +21 degrees to -50 degrees in elevation. The electronic system calculated parallax-corrected aiming angles and automatically tracked the helicopter's movement relative to the target.

"Hugh Cobra" was created in relation to actions in Southeast Asia. The armed forces of the states in this region had a rather small number of armored vehicles, so the creators of the helicopter did not bother with outboard weapons, and time was running out: the new machine was eagerly awaited in Vietnam. On the experimental helicopter, there were only two suspension units on the wing, on production machines - four. Suspended weapons included two types of NAR units, XM-18 containers with 7.62-mm machine guns and XM-13 automatic 40-mm grenade launchers (each container contained one grenade launcher with an ammunition capacity of 300 grenades), cassettes with XM-3 mines, smoke E39P1 aviation instruments and fuel tanks with a capacity of 264 liters. For use in Vietnam, three standard variants of combat load on an external sling were proposed. Lightweight - 2 XM-157 NAR units with 7 70 mm caliber missiles each on the external hardpoints and 2 XM-18 containers with one 7.62 mm machine gun (ammunition 1500 rounds) - on the internal ones. Medium - 4 blocks of NAR XM-159 with 19 missiles of 70 mm caliber each. Heavy - 2 XM-159 NAR units on the external hardpoints and 2 XM-18 containers with one 7.62 mm machine gun (3000 rounds of ammunition) on the internal ones. The gunner from the front seat controlled the fire of mobile weapons located on the turret, and the pilot used weapons suspended on the wing pylons. The weapon control system made it possible to set the number of simultaneously fired pairs of missiles from the left and right blocks in a salvo and the interval between salvos. The NARs were launched only symmetrically from blocks suspended under the left and right wings, since asymmetrical missile launches led to the appearance of a disturbing moment and made it difficult to control the helicopter. If necessary, the pilot could control the fire of the weapons mounted on the turret, which in this case was rigidly fixed relative to the longitudinal axis of the helicopter, and the gunner could launch the NARs.

The transmission, engine compressor and cockpit were covered with armor plates weighing a total of 122 kg. Subsequently, when the Cobra became famous throughout the world, many experts noted with bewilderment the lack of armored glass in the cockpit, which was explained by the lack of statistics on the helicopter’s affected areas from the ground. It was considered that it was enough to cover the pilots with side armor plates and armored shields retractable to shoulder level. The Vietnamese experience showed the fallacy of this view, and armored glass appeared on subsequent versions of the Hugh Cobra. Fuel tanks are protected and resistant to 12.7 mm bullets. Still, the main protection of the helicopter was its small dimensions. When looking at it from below, from the position of an enemy shooter, the plan projection area was the same as that of the English pre-war De Havilland Tiger Mot biplane. Along with the Cobra, other American combat helicopters were also made: the 16N-1A Pathfinder was a rather unusual aircraft with a pusher propeller in an annular fairing on the tail boom, Boeing Vertol was a modification of the Chinook, and Kaman was an armed version. UH-2 Sea Sprite maritime search and rescue helicopter, Sikorsky proposed the S-61 - a transport helicopter version. So the future success of Cobra was by no means predetermined.

Cobra, in addition to its (at that time not at all obvious) advantages, had time as its main ally. The good old “Hugh” was well mastered by the troops, successfully operated and, most importantly, loved by the pilots. If the AH-1G were adopted, the army would not have to create a new supply system; the period of flight testing and development of the Cobra in combat units would be significantly reduced. The commander of American troops in Vietnam was an ardent supporter of the speedy adoption of the vehicle. Flight tests proceeded quickly, and already a month after they began, military pilots were flying on the Cobra along with test pilots. During the flight tests, the main emphasis was placed not so much on checking flight characteristics and flight safety, but on testing weapons and determining the effect of missile launches on the design and behavior of the helicopter in flight. Reviews from military pilots were full of enthusiasm, especially highlighting the excellent visibility from the cockpit. The helicopter was easier to control than the Hugh, and its stability in flight at low speeds and in hover mode was also better. During the tests, only a slight excess of the permissible vibration level was noted, but this is a disease of all helicopters. After the control system was improved, the vibrations returned to normal, and the modernized Cobra set a world speed record for helicopters in November 1965 - 322 km/h.

Meanwhile, by the end of October, Boeing-Vertol also refused to participate in the competition. Comparative flight tests of three other competitors, the UH-2, the S-61 and the Hugh Cobra, began in December 1965 and ended in March 1966. The winner was the AH-1G, and received a tidbit - a contract for the supply of 2 demonstration and 110 production helicopters for the US Army. After a couple of months, the planned number of Cobras purchased for the army increased to 200. In October 1966, flight tests of the first demonstration helicopter began. It differed from the experimental Cobra in its non-retractable landing gear and larger wing with four nodes for mounting weapons. The tests were successful, the military had no special complaints, and already in June 1967, the first production AH-1G “Hugh Cobra” rolled off the production line. In the summer of the same year, an experimental helicopter was presented at the aviation show in Le Bourget. After the show, the helicopter made a promotional tour of a number of European countries. In England, at the Boscombe Down test center, Royal Air Force test pilots flew it and also gave it high marks. To speed up the development of the new helicopter, the Cobra NETT unit (a team training on new equipment) was formed in combat units. It brought together 50 experienced pilots and technicians, most of whom had already smelled gunpowder in Vietnam. And the presence of engineers made it possible to study new technology first-hand, saving time and increasing the level of training. In August, the NETT team was transferred to Vietnam to a base near Saigon. The combat career of the world's first attack helicopter began. The first 90 production AH-1Gs, due to the lack of development of the XM-28 turrets, were equipped with a TAT-102 with a Minigun machine gun. They were the first to arrive in Vietnam. A total of 1,133 AH-1Gs were built. Of these, the lion's share was supplied to the US Army, 38 helicopters to the US Marine Corps, six to Israel, eight to Spain. A number of Cobras were converted into unarmed TAH-1G trainers. During flight tests of various weapons, JAH-1Gs, also converted from combat ones, were used. The Hugh Cobra was designed with use in Southeast Asia in mind, but appetite comes with eating: as soon as it was adopted, the military began to look for opportunities to use the Cobra in the European theater of operations.

Cobra was eagerly awaited in Vietnam. The commander of American forces in Southeast Asia constantly rushed the arrival of the first attack helicopters to the active army. The NETT experimental unit, already familiar to us, under the command of Colonel Paul Anderson, was transferred by C-123 military transport aircraft to Vietnam to Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon in August 1967. General George Seneff, commander of the 1st Army Aviation Brigade, personally tested the helicopter in combat conditions, flying as a gunner a few days after the Cobras arrived in theater and personally destroying a sampan carrying four Vietnamese. The first official combat mission took place in October. Then two “Hugh Cobra” plutongs of the 334th aviation company accompanied the UH-1 helicopters from the 118th aviation company with the landing force. According to the tradition of American pilots, the plutong received its own name - “Playboy”, and the fuselages of the Cobras were decorated with white rabbits - the symbol of the famous magazine. However, the “playboys” did not come to Vietnam to play with girls: in the first week of hostilities they destroyed 4 Viet Cong bunkers and sank 14 sampans.

True recognition came to the Cobras during the 1968 New Year's offensive of Viet Cong troops on American air bases. Helicopters only needed small areas to take off. The Cobras made several sorties a day, launching attacks over the heads of the defending GIs. It was then that the term “air artillery” was born; in Vietnam, in relation to AH-1G helicopters, it was used much more often than the traditional one - air cavalry. The airmobile units were assigned helicopter companies consisting of two plutongs of eight UH-1D helicopters and one (also eight helicopters) AH-1G. The battle formation of the Cobras, like fighter aircraft, was built on the basis of a pair: leader - wingman. The pair ensured good communication and did not constrain the maneuver. In Vietnam, helicopters spent most of their flight time over terrain not controlled by the US Army or its South Vietnamese allies. The use of helicopters in pairs increased the crew’s chances of surviving a forced landing on foreign territory. In this case, the second helicopter covered the downed comrade with fire until the “angel of mercy”—the search and rescue helicopter—arrived. There were cases when the situation did not allow waiting for help, and then the Cobra pilots literally took the downed pilots on their wings.

The main combat mission of the Cobras was to escort the landing Hughs to the landing site and back. Very often, the mere presence of a well-armed escort in the air kept the Viet Cong from opening anti-aircraft fire. In the absence of Cobras, transport helicopters came under fire from the ground long before reaching their final destination. Escorting Hughs and heavy Chinooks along the entire route dramatically increased the safety of infantry delivery, but required a large number of escort helicopters, diverting Cobras from other missions. Escort only on the last, most dangerous, section of the route made it possible to get by with a much smaller Hugh Cobra squad. The following tactics were worked out: most of the way, the “transports” flew at an altitude of 2500 - 3000 m, where AK-47 and DShK bullets lost their lethality, and near the landing zone they were met by “Cobras”. Then the Cobras, which had a decent flight duration, met the next wave of landings, and everything was repeated. This tactic quickly caught on; escort along the entire route was used only in bad weather conditions, when cloud cover pinned the helicopters to the ground, preventing them from gaining the required altitude. As a rule, a pair of Cobras were allocated to accompany helicopters carrying troops. Taking advantage of their speed advantage, attack helicopters described ellipses around the marching order of transport vehicles. In the landing zone, Cobras circled in the air, ready to immediately suppress enemy firing points. Such tactics made it possible to view the surrounding area in all azimuths and quickly respond to a threat.

At the same time, its shortcomings soon became apparent: each “Hugh” had a machine gun installed in the doorways on both sides, and the presence of combat helicopters between them and the enemy prevented lethal fire from transport vehicles, seriously reducing the firepower of the helicopter unit. In the landing zone, the flight altitude was only a few tens of meters; accordingly, the Cobras had a poor starting position for the attack; they had to dive onto the target at low angles. A solution was found in echeloning the battle formations in height. Combat helicopters began to fly at an altitude of about 150 m, but the Hughs remained below, at the height of the treetops. When performing fire support missions, Cobras usually launched an attack from a height of 1200 m, diving at the target at an angle of 30 degrees. At a distance of 1000 m from the target, the NAR was launched, then the machine guns in hanging containers went into action. At a distance of 700 m, the helicopters began an exit maneuver from the attack, the stationary weapons could no longer hit the target, so the firing of missiles and container machine guns stopped, but the turret opened fire, the aiming system of which tracked the change in the angular position of the helicopter relative to the target. During such attacks, helicopters did not approach the target less than 500 m and did not enter the effective range of rifle-caliber small arms fire.

Vietnamese guerrillas are accustomed to transport helicopters flying at the same cruising speed. Knowing the speed and determining the distance to the target, they easily calculated the lead angle when aiming. Hugh Cobra pilots, using the new helicopter's wider speed range, often varied the cruising speed during flight, making aiming difficult. Ammunition during a combat mission was spent to the fullest - the helicopters returned to base with no more than 10% of the ammunition for machine guns. "Cobras" also often flew "free hunts", using the rather risky method of "reconnaissance by fire" (an American term, in Russian it is more correct to say "I call fire on myself"). Most of the combat missions were carried out during the day. In addition to the OH-6, Cobras interacted with light reconnaissance aircraft Cessna O-1 and Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. To make them less visible at night, the Cobras of this unit were painted black. Over the course of three weeks in April 1968, helicopter crews of the 235th Company destroyed 119 sampans and virtually stopped water transportation in their area. The very first combat experience revealed the significant superiority of the new helicopter over the armed Hugh - UH-1C. Before the appearance of the AN-1G, the Americans, not without reason, considered the UH-1C the best combat helicopter in the world. The speed of the Cobra was 40 km/h greater than that of the Hugh; the maximum permissible speed was also greater, allowing it to dive at angles of 50-80 degrees, while for the Hugh this angle was limited to 15-20 degrees. . And there is no need to talk about maneuverability and combat survivability. The relative losses of helicopters were much less than those of airplanes. Thanks to a well-established evacuation service, a significant number of downed helicopters were transported to the mainland by heavy CH-54 crane helicopters and restored.

In 1970, the US Army analyzed incidents with the AH-1G that could (or did) lead to flight accidents. During the year, hydraulic systems failed 58 times. 27 incidents involved the destruction of tail rotor blades due to impacts with ground obstacles. The high number of cases of loss of strength of tail rotor blades (in the US Army - 224 incidents in 1970) prompted helicopter manufacturing companies to increase their strength and at the same time seriously engage in research into tail rotors in annular channels. Engine failures occurred 94 times. The weapons also caused criticism. Shooters noted jamming when firing long bursts from turret-mounted machine guns, caused by the Teflon coating of the cartridge supply sleeves peeling off when heated from firing. In the climatic conditions of South Vietnam, the air conditioning system was completely unable to provide acceptable temperature and humidity in the cabin. With the canopy closed, the temperature in the cockpit was 100°C higher than the ambient temperature, sweat flooded the eyes of the pilots and gunners, and prevented them from normally piloting the helicopter and firing from the onboard weapons.

In the early stages of the war, the mission of attack helicopters was to destroy infantry and light vehicles carrying people and cargo (such as sampans and bicycles). The firepower of the Cobras was quite sufficient to defeat such targets. The situation changed when a stream of Soviet-made heavy equipment poured along the Ho Chi Minh Trail into South Vietnam. The insufficient effectiveness of the NAR to destroy the PT-76, T-34 and T-54 tanks was immediately revealed. Hugh Cobras came into close contact with tanks in Laos in 1971. The 2nd squadron of the 17th air cavalry regiment destroyed five tanks, four PT-76s and one T-34 with unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with heavy warheads. Attempts to destroy the tanks with fire from the 20-mm cannons of the suspended containers were unsuccessful. Tanks were difficult to hit not only with missiles. Excellent camouflage and camouflage coloring made them very difficult to detect. The first tank attacks were unsuccessful. The pilots proposed attacking them with at least two helicopters: one coming from the front, distracting the attention of the tankers, and the second attacking from the flank or rear. In practice, the pilots, having discovered a tank, immediately rushed into the attack in excitement, without bothering themselves with distracting maneuvers. Perhaps more tanks were destroyed. Thus, in one of the combat missions, two columns of tanks were discovered. As a result of the ensuing strike, the convoy was stopped, but not a single tank caught fire. The fact is that the NARs exploded inside the armored hull, destroying the crew. But if the fuel did not ignite or the ammunition did not detonate, it was not possible to establish from the air that the tank was disabled. The Toy ATGM became a radical means of fighting tanks. The first vehicles equipped with guided missiles were the UH-1D. The successful use of these helicopters in the fight against armored targets in Vietnam intensified work on integrating ATGMs into the Hugh Cobra weapon system. On a trial basis, two AH-1Gs were equipped with UR-mi, and from May 1972 to January 1973 they were tested in combat conditions. The 81st ATGM destroyed 27 tanks (including T-54, PT-76 and captured M-41), 13 trucks and several fortified firing points. However, the helicopters did not receive a single hit. Missile launches were usually carried out from a distance of 2200 m, instead of 1000 m when launching an NAR. In 1972, the Americans gave a surprise by using helicopter ATGMs against tanks, but the Vietnamese also surprised the Yankees. In the same year, they used Soviet Strela MANPADS to combat low-flying targets. When designing the Hugh Cobra, the designers included measures to counteract heat-seeking missiles by using exhaust gas cooling, but this was not enough.

The Arrows confidently captured the helicopters, and the first to be shot down was a Hugh, then two Cobras.
In the first case, the AN-1G was flying alone at an altitude of about 1000 m. After being hit by Strela, the car fell apart in the air. In another case, a rocket hit the tail boom. Despite significant damage, the pilot descended to the tops of the trees, but the car hit the crown and overturned. The Americans assessed the threat. All helicopters flying in Vietnam were equipped with an elbow pipe that diverted hot gases upward into the plane of rotation of the main rotor, where a powerful turbulent flow instantly mixed them with the surrounding air. As practice has shown, the sensitivity of the Strela homing head was not enough to capture helicopters modified in this way. During the years of the war in Southeast Asia, Cobras demonstrated excellent survivability. Of the 88 Cobras that took part in the operation in Laos, 13 were shot down. By the end of the Vietnam War, the US Army had 729 AN-1G helicopters out of 1,133 built. The lion's share of the missing 404 vehicles remained in Vietnam forever. Modifications:

AN-1G Huey Cobra	first serial modification.
TN-1G Huey Cobra	training helicopter based on AN-1G.
AN-1Q Huey Cobra	anti-tank modification of the helicopter under the ICAP (Improved Cobra Armament Program) program.
AN-1S (Mod) Huey Cobra	modification in 1974 under the ICAM (Improved Cobra Agility and Maneuverability) program with new T53-L-703 gas turbine engines, with a new transmission and tail rotor from a Bell Model 212 helicopter.
TN-1S Night Stalker	training helicopter for training in night flights.
AN-1S (Prod) Huey Cobra	modification combining the ICAP and ICAM programs, new electronic warfare equipment and new weapons were added.
AN-1R Huey Cobra	designation of AN-1S (Prod) Huey Cobra upon adoption.
AN-1E Huey Cobra	modification of AN-1S (ECAS) Huey Cobra under the ECAS (Enhanced Cobra Armament System) program. The helicopter is equipped with a General Electric M79E1Universal Turret and a universal launcher for the M138 NUR.
AN-1F Huey Cobra	modification of the AN-1S (MC) Huey Cobra (MC - Modernized Cobra), modernization under the ECAS and Prod programs plus a Doppler navigation system, ALQ-144 IR sensors and a Rockwell AAS-3 laser designator.
Fuji AH-1S	A version of the AH-1F built under license by the Japanese company Fuji with a Kawasaki (Textron Lycoming) T53-K-703 gas turbine engine.

LTH:

Modification	AH-1G
Main screw diameter, m	13.41
Tail rotor diameter, m	2.59
Length, m	13.59
Height, m	4.09
Weight, kg
empty	2993
normal takeoff	4524
maximum takeoff	4536
Internal fuel, l	980
engine's type	1 Textron Lycoming T53-L-703 gas turbine engine
power, kWt
declared	1 x 1342
during takeoff	1 x 962
during flight	1 x 845
Maximum speed, km/h	315
Cruising speed, km/h	227
Practical range, km	507
Rate of climb, m/min	494
Practical ceiling, m	3720
Crew, people	2
Weapons:	one 20-mm three-barreled M197 Vulcan gun with 750 rounds Combat load - 1542 kg on 4 hardpoints: 8 (2x4) BGM-71 TOW ATGMs and 2 LAU-68 or LAU-6 launchers with 7x70 mm or 19x70 mm NUR Possible installation of 4 AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, 2x8 AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, containers with cannon and machine gun weapons, 2 40-mm grenade launchers

Add. information:

Photos:	Bell Model 209 helicopter prototype
Pre-production Bell Model 209
Pre-production AH-1G
AH-1G
Marine Corps AH-1G
AH-1G
AH-1G
The nose of an Israeli AH-1G
Dashboard

Color options:

Bell Model 209

US Army AH-1G

Marine Corps AH-1G

US Army AH-1G

Spanish Navy AH-1G

US National Guard AH-1G

List of sources:

Wings of the Motherland. Mikhail Nikolsky. Air cavalry war horse Maxim Starostin. All helicopters of the World. Bell "Huey Cobra" Squadron/Signal. Aircraft Number 168. Wayne Mutza. AH-1 Cobra in Action Bell Ah-1 Cobra (Osprey Air Combat Series) Global Security.org. US Military Aircraft. AH-1T Cobra Flug Revue Online. AH-1: Die Versionen FAQs.org. Greg Goebel. Air Vectors. The Bell AH-1 HueyCobra Aero technica lotnicza. Pawel Klosinski. Bell AH-1 Cobra SAM. Iain Ogilvie. Bell AH-1 Cobra camouflage and markings

Corner of the sky. 2004 (Page: Modification date: )

Options

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force AH-1S

US Forest Service Bell 209 on a bar complex fire in California

AH-1P forward cockpit (restoration)

Rear cockpit of AH-1P (restoration)

With one engine

Bell 209 Original AH-1G prototype with retractable landing gear. This model number is also used by the FAA to register ex-US Army AN-1 civil aircraft used in the fire service. AH-1G HueyCobra Begins production of the 1966 combat model for the US Army with a single 1,400 (1,000 kW) Avco Lycoming T53-13 engine. JAH-1G HueyCobra One helicopter for testing weapons, including Hellfire missiles and a multi-barrel cannon. TH-1G HueyCobra Dual Seat Trainer. Z.14 HueyCobra The Spanish Navy acquired eight brand new AH-1G aircraft, designating the type "Z-14". They were equipped with a 20 mm M35 gun system and were used to support coastal patrol boats. Four of them died as a result of accidents. The remaining helicopters were retired in 1985, with three sent back to the United States and one for storage in Spain. YAH-1Q Eight AH-1G aircraft with XM26 telescopic sight (TSU) and two M56 TOW quad launchers. AH-1Q HueyCobra Equipped with the M65 TOW/Cobra missile subsystem, M65 Telescopic Sight (TSU), and M73 Reflex sight. All future versions will be equipped with TSU and equipped to launch the TOW missile subsystem. The YAH-1R AH-1G is powered by a T53-L-703 engine without a TOW system. Yakh-1S AH-1Q update and TOW system. AH-1S The base model AH-1S is the AH-1Q model, powered by a T53-L-703 turboshaft engine producing 1,800 hp. (1300 kW). The AH-1S was also referred to as "Improved AH-1S", "Modified AH-1S" or "AH-1S (MOD)" until 1988. (Prior to 1988, all upgraded aircraft were called AH-1S variants.) QAH-1S Target conversion of Bell-Bristol Aerospace's AH-1S unmanned aerial vehicle as part of a joint development program between the United States and Canada began in 1994. Honeywell further modified the QAH-1S into Hokum-X
, installing systems and hardware to emulate the Russian language. Kamov Ka-50 attack helicopter. Three Hokum-Xs were completed between 1998 and 2001. AH-1P 100 production aircraft with composite rotors, a flat glass cockpit, and an improved on-ground (NOE) cabin layout. The AH-1P was also referred to as "Production AH-1S" or "AH-1S (PROD)" until 1988. These improvements are considered Phase 1 of the AH-1S upgrade program. AH-1E 98 production aircraft with the Enhanced Cobra Weapon System (ECAS) with the M97A1 weapon subsystem with a tri-barrel M197 20 mm cannon. The AH-1E was also referred to as the "Upgunned AH-1S" or "AH-1S (ECAS)" until 1988. These improvements are considered Phase 2 of the AH-1S upgrade program. The AH-1E aircraft included the M147 Missile Management Subsystem (RMS) to launch 2.75-inch (70 mm) rockets. AH-1F 143 production aircraft and 387 converted AH-1G Cobras. The AH-1F includes all stages 1 and 2 up to the AH-1S. It also included Stage 3 upgrades: a head-up display, a laser rangefinder, an infrared suppressor mounted above the engine exhaust, an engine infrared suppression system, and an M143 Air Data Subsystem (ADS). The AH-1F was also referred to as the "AH-1S Upgraded", "AH-1S Cobra Upgraded" or "AH-1S (MC)" until 1988. Model 249 Experimental demonstrator features a four-blade rotor system, an upgraded engine, and experimental equipment including Hellfire missiles. Bell 309 KingCobra Experimental all-weather version based on the single-engine AH-1G design and twin-engine AH-1J design. Two Bell 309s were produced; the first was powered by a PW&C T400-CP-400 Twin-Pac engine and the second by a Lycoming T-55-L-7C engine.

Modifications of Bell AH-1 "Cobra"

The AN 1 Cobra helicopter was produced in the following modifications:

AH-1G - serial modification.
AN-1E - modification with a nose turret for a 20-mm four-barreled gun.
AH-1F is a modification created to fight tanks.
AH-1J “Sea Cobra” is a helicopter with improved power characteristics - two Pratt-Whitney RT6T-3 engines with a total power of 1800 hp are installed.
AN-1P – modification with fiberglass blades.
AH-1Q – modification for fighting tanks.
AH-1R, S - modifications that include a four-bladed main rotor, a more powerful engine and improved electronic equipment.
AH-1T - development of the AH-1J modification, engine power increased to 2050 hp.
The AH-1W Super Cobra was an improved version of the AH-1T, which included laser-guided Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Stinger-class missiles, and Sidewinder missiles. Deliveries of the AH-1W Super Cobra began in 1985.

Bell AH-1 Super Cobra multi-role attack helicopter

In 1986, the development of the AN-1W Super Cobra fire support helicopter, a modernized version of the AN-1T Sea Cobra helicopter, was completed. It has better tactical and technical characteristics, greater reliability, survivability and fairly powerful weapons (due to equipping with two more economical T700-GE-401 gas turbine engines with a total power of 3400 hp, which is 1300 hp more than the power of the AN- helicopter engine 1T "Sea Cobra"). The Super Cobra can carry the following weapons: anti-tank guided missiles of the Hellfire or Toy type, four launchers, each with nineteen 70 mm or four 127 mm unguided aircraft missiles, a turret installation at the bottom of the forward fuselage with 20 -mm cannon and one cannon of the same caliber in containers on the underwing pylons. In addition, for the first time abroad, this helicopter is armed with Sidewinder AIM-9 air-to-air missiles or Stinger guided missiles to combat enemy helicopters. The helicopter's weapon control system and the development of night vision equipment for it continue to be improved. The version for ground forces was designated AH-1Z Super Cobra. This is a four-blade variant of the AH-1W. The first flights of the new helicopter are planned for 2000, and adoption in 2004. The helicopters will be equipped with Night Targeting System (NTS) manufactured by the Israeli company Tamam Division of IAI, the system will be integrated with an IR guidance system.

Helicopter modifications

AN-1W Super Cobra - development of the AN-1T helicopter with two General Electric T700-GE-401 gas turbine engines with a take-off power of 1212 kW each; made its first flight on November 16, 1983. The first production helicopter AN-1W was delivered in March 1986. for the Marine Corps, which initially ordered 44 helicopters, an additional 30 helicopters were ordered. In addition, 42 AN-1T helicopters will be upgraded to AN-1W. The total cost of the production and modernization program for 116 AN-1W helicopters is estimated at $1,176 million, including R&D – $16.8 million; The average price of an AN-1W helicopter is about 10.1 million dollars.

AN-1W IWS (Integrated Weapon System) - modernization with an integrated weapon system. The Marine Corps proposes to upgrade 225 AN-1J, T and W helicopters to the 1W modification at an average cost of upgrading one helicopter of 2-3 million dollars. The main feature of the helicopter is a new cockpit with an improved computer, digital map and color multi-purpose displays to reduce the pilot's workload.

AN-1BW – modification of the AN-1W with a four-blade main rotor and a “type 680” hub from a Bell 412 helicopter. The chord of the blades is 0.63 m; two blades can be folded. Made its first flight on January 24, 1989. Take-off weight increased to 7620 kg, maximum speed to 370 km/h, maximum speed to 315 km/h, maximum cruising speed to 297 km/h.

AN-1W Venom is a development of the AN-1BW helicopter in accordance with the requirements for a combat helicopter for the British armed forces. Equipped with weapons for operation in low visibility conditions, at night and for autonomous navigation.

Main performance characteristics

Year of adoption: 1975
Main propeller diameter – 14.63 m
Tail rotor diameter – 2.97 m
Length – 13.87 m
Height – 4.32 m
Weight, kg – empty – 5533
– maximum take-off – 7670

Domestic fuel – 1250 kg
PTB – 2 x 380 l
Engine type – 2 gas turbine engines General Electric T700-GE-401
Power – 2 x 1640 hp.
Maximum speed – 389 km/h
Cruising speed – 274 km/h
Range – 648 km
Climbing rate – 530 m/min
Practical ceiling – 5500 m
Static ceiling – 4950 m
Crew – 2 people

Armament

1 x 20mm M197 Vulcan tri-barrel cannon with 750 rounds.
Combat load – 1775 kg on 4 hardpoints: 8(2x4) BGM-71 TOW ATGM or 16(2x8) AGM-114 Hellfire, 4 LAU-61A, LAU-68A/A, LAU-68A, LAU-68B/A launchers , LAU-69 with 70 mm NUR or 127 mm Zuni rocket bombs.
Possible installation: 4 AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, 4 Sidearm anti-lock missiles, 2 CBU-55B bombs, 4 LAU-7 launchers with AIM-92 Stinger or AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, 4 containers M18E1 with a 7.62 mm six-barrel M134 Minigun and 2000 rounds of 2 40 mm M118 grenade launchers.

The history of the Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter

Work on the design of combat helicopters in the United States began in the 1950s after the successful use of transport and light multi-purpose helicopters during the Korean War was demonstrated in practice.
To speed up the development of a new combat helicopter, which was required in connection with the Vietnam War, it was decided to use in its design the systems and assemblies of the Iroquois multi-purpose helicopter, which had proven itself in operation. The requirements for this helicopter were not determined by the army, so Bell had to develop the machine at its own discretion. For this purpose, the company previously developed the concept of the Warrior helicopter, which made it possible to solve a number of important problems, as well as determine the optimal layout for the placement of weapons, the cockpit and the helicopter itself.

In 1965, the construction of the first experimental helicopter was completed, it was named AH-1, its first flight took place on September 7, 1965. The flight of the pre-production helicopter took place in November 1966. The AH 1 helicopter began to be supplied in series from June 1967, and in September they began to be used in battles in Vietnam.

In service

USA USA [ source not specified 861 days
]
Bahrain Bahrain - 16 AH-1E, 6 TAH-1P and 12 AH-1F, as of 2016
Israel Israel -33 AH-1E/F, as of 2020
Spain Spain [ source not specified 861 days
]
Jordan Jordan - 12 AH-1F and 17 AH-1S, as of 2016
Iran Iran - 50 AH-1J, as of 2020
Pakistan Pakistan - 38 AH-1F/S, as of 2020
Thailand Thailand - 7 AH-1F, as of 2020
Republic of China Republic of China - 67 AH-1W, as of 2020
Turkey Turkey - 18 AH-1P, 12 AH-1S and 4 TAH-1P, as of 2016
Republic of Korea Republic of Korea - 60 AH-1F/J, as of 2016
Japan Japan - 18 AH-1S, as of 2020

Notes

Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2004-2005 / Paul Jackson. - Jane's Information Group, 2004. - P. 575-577. — 860 p. — ISBN 0-7106-2614-2.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 45. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 291. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 148. - ISBN 9781857438352.

Notes

Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2004-2005 / Paul Jackson. - Jane's Information Group, 2004. - P. 575-577. — 860 p. — ISBN 0-7106-2614-2.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 45. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 291. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 148. - ISBN 9781857438352.

Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense released a message indicating that Boeing has received a contract for AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

For the needs of the US Army, the contractor, Boeing, must supply 35 helicopters of the latest modification in the amount of $591 million.

The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade attack helicopter equipped with a wheeled landing gear and crewed by two pilots.

Helicopters are armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun automatic cannon with 1,200 rounds of ammunition, located under the main landing gear, under the front of the helicopter fuselage. To accommodate weapons, 4 external hardpoints are installed, where, as a rule, AGM-114 Helifire and Hydra 70 missile launchers are mounted. To increase survivability, the helicopter is equipped with additional backup systems for duplicating the main work processes during the flight.

The AH-64 Apache model replaced the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. The latest modification of the helicopter has been produced at Boeing Defense factories from 1997 to the present. In total, more than 2,000 aircraft were produced.

In the US Army, the helicopter is the main combat vehicle, and is also used by the armed forces of Greece, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore. Manufactured under license in the UK under the name Agusta Westland Apache.

The first examples of the Apache helicopter entered the army in 1981. After thorough testing in the field and during combat operations, they received approval for mass delivery to US Army units. During the transformations at Boeing and improvements to the project, Apache has been produced at the company's factories since 1997.

During the modernization of the helicopter, Apache modifications were produced: AH-64A, AH-64A+/D, AH-64E, WAH-64D.

The AH-64 Apache has four main rotor blades and four tail rotor blades. The crew in the helicopter cabin is located in tandem: the gunner sits in front, and the pilot sits behind on an elevated platform. Helicopters are equipped with a power plant consisting of two GE T700 turboshaft engines with a power (depending on modification) of 1696 - 2100 hp. One of the features of the Apache helicopter was the use of an integrated helmet with display of sighting systems (IHADSS). The helmet allowed the pilot to control the aiming of an automatic cannon and conduct aimed fire at the enemy.

The AH-64 is designed to perform combat missions around the clock in adverse conditions through the use of night vision systems.

Design

The pilot's seats, the sides of the cockpit (sliding flaps), the side projections of the engine and some of the vulnerable structural elements are armored. The armor was made by installing NOROC composite armor. There is a modification AH-1S

with improved survivability. All systems are invulnerable to a single hit by a 12.7 mm armor-piercing bullet; providing a minimum of 30 minutes of flight after a single hit by a 23-mm OFZ shell from a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun.

4 hardpoints can accommodate various weapons: up to 4 TOW ATGMs, up to 8 AGM-114 Hellfire ATGMs (AH-1W and AH-1Z), AIM-9L type missile defense; up to 2 suspended cannon mounts, as well as NAR with a caliber of 70 and 127 mm. Suspension up to 2 PTB is possible.

The avionics include communications equipment, navigation and sighting equipment (without radar), and a navigation center. The means of defense consist of equipment for shooting DO and LTC, as well as smoke bombs.

Description of the AN 64 Apache combat helicopter

This machine was originally created as an attack helicopter to support ground forces at any time of the day and in any weather. Also, one of the main functions of the Apache is the fight against enemy armored vehicles, which they have repeatedly brilliantly demonstrated during various conflicts.

The requirements for the new helicopter were initially very strict. The AN 64 had to fly in the rain and at night, carry out a combat mission even after being hit by a 12.7 mm bullet, be able to fly “on instruments” and attack in poor visibility conditions, and also ensure the safety of the crew during an emergency landing at a speed of 12 .8 m/s.

The helicopter has several modifications. The latest and most advanced of them is the AN 64D Apache Longbow, the first such aircraft took off in early 1991.

"Apache" is made according to the classical design with one steering and one main rotor. Both main and tail rotors have four blades. The length of the main rotor blade of the Apache helicopter is 6 meters, the blades have a special structure: they are metal inside, covered with fiberglass on top, the trailing edge is made of composite material, and the front edge is titanium. This structure allows the helicopter to touch small obstacles (branches, small trees) with its blades. The tail rotor is X-shaped, which is much more efficient than the traditional one.

The fuselage of the AN 64 Apache consists of aluminum alloys of special strength, the helicopter has a small extension wing (removable) and a non-retractable landing gear. The cabin of the AN 64 is designed for two crew members who sit one above the other. The cockpit is protected by heavy armor. The helicopter's design can withstand heavy overloads. "Apache" has two engines, which are located on the sides of the vehicle. Each of the engines has a special device; it disperses the exhaust stream and reduces the helicopter's visibility in the infrared range.

The combat helicopter uses a dual hydraulic system, the fuel tanks are protected, and the most important components of the vehicle are covered with armor.

The AN 64 is equipped with a lot of different electronic equipment, this can especially be said about the latest modification - the AN 64D Apache Longbow. The basis of all AN 64 weapons is TADS - target designation and detection system. It consists of several elements.

Night vision system with multiple magnification;
Optical system;
Television system that operates during the daytime;
In addition, the Apache helicopters were the first to use a helmet-mounted target designation system, which allows you to shoot by moving your head. Electronic control systems allow the pilot to fly the helicopter and conduct combat as comfortably as possible. The control of the Apache is especially well thought out for flights at ultra-low altitudes, bending around landscape elements. This significantly increases the chance of survival for the vehicle and its crew.

The Apache has four hardpoints on the wings and can carry unguided or guided missiles. Each pendant can attach up to 700 kg. The helicopter can be equipped with 16 Hellfire guided missiles. A Hughes H230A-1 “Chaingun” cannon with a caliber of 30 mm is installed between the landing gear.

Below are the technical characteristics of all modifications of the AN-64 Apache combat helicopter.

Notes

World Air Forces 2014
Army Research Development and Acquisition Magazine, 1980, N 5-6, p. 12
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 323. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 337. - ISBN 9781857438352.
↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 280. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 328. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 293. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 291. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 148. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 268. - ISBN 9781857438352.
International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Military Balance 2020 / James Hackett. - London: Taylor&Francis, 2020. - P. 261. - ISBN 9781857438352.
Verier, Mike. Bell AH-1 Cobra. Osprey Publishing, 1990.
Air Warfare. W. Boyne. ABC-CLIO. P.303
LAM SON 719. Maj. Gen. Nguyen Duy. US Army Center of Hinh Military History.
Jonathan Bernstein. US Army AH-1 Cobra Units in Vietnam. Osprey Publishing, 2003.
↑
Pierre Razoux. The Iran-Iraq War, p.572
Israeli Air Force, No. 131, December 1982, pp. 22-24
Israeli Air Force, No. 130, October 1982, p. 23
Israeli Air Force, No. 228, June 1999, pp. 8-9
Mantelli – Brown – Kittel – Graf. Apache – Boeing AH-64, p. 28
Huey Cobra Gunships. Chris Bishop. Osprey Publishing. 2006. p.34
The Aviation History (2012). Florian Ion Petrescu, Relly Victoria Petrescu. p.82
(unavailable link). Retrieved November 6, 2020.
Terror in the Tibal Zone. Alan Warnes. AirForces Monthly – March 2010

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Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter

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Description of the AN 64 Apache combat helicopter

Notes