Basic Information

Name

AH-1W Super Cobra American Attack Helicopter

Designation

AH-1W SuperCobra

Alternate Designation

AH-1W SuperCobra

Equipment Type

Attack Helicopter

Manufacturer

Bell Helicopter

Date of Introduction

1986

Description

The AH-1W, the backbone of the United States Marine Corps. Marines have been flying the AH-1W Super Cobra since 1986. The last AH-1W was delivered in 1998. AH-1Ws are fielded in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons or HMLAs. Detachments from HMLAs deploy as part of the task-organized Aviation Combat Element of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, the most common of which is the Marine Expeditionary Unit, or MEU. 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. A major upgrade of the Bell Super Cobra known as the H-1 program is underway. The program calls for the re-manufacture 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 beyond 2020.

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Engine Turboshaft (1725 hp)

Endurance 3.00 hrs

Service Ceiling 3 m

Variants

AH-1J SeaCobra Original twin engine version.

AH-1J International Export version of the AH-1J SeaCobra.

AH-1T Improved SeaCobra Improved version with extended tail boom and fuselage and an upgraded transmission and engines.

AH-1(4B)W Viper "Four-Bladed Whiskey" test version with a four-bladed bearingless composite main rotor based on Bell 680 rotor. A prototype was converted from AH-1T 161022.

AH-1Z Viper A new variant nicknamed "Zulu Cobra", and developed in conjunction with the UH-1Y Venom for the H-1 upgrade program. The variant includes an upgraded four-blade main rotor and adds the Target Sight System (TSS).

Bell 309 KingCobra Experimental all-weather version based on the AH-1G single-engine and AH-1J twin-engine designs.[36] Two Bell 309s were produced; the first was powered by a PW&C T400-CP-400 Twin-Pac engine set and the second was powered by a Lycoming T-55-L-7C engine.

CobraVenom Proposed version for the United Kingdom.

AH-1Z King Cobra AH-1Z offered for Turkey's ATAK program; selected for production in 2000, but later canceled when Bell and Turkey could not reach an agreement on production.

Panha 2091 Unlicensed Iranian upgrade of AH-1J International.

IAIO Toufan Iranian copy / re-manufactured AH-1J International by Iran Aviation Industries Organization, with locally sourced avionics, and weapons.

System

Alternative Designation AH-1W SuperCobra

Type Attack Helicopter

Manufacturer Bell Helicopter

In Service 1986-Present

Crew two: pilot, co-pilot/gunner

Cockpit Configuration Two seats, in tandem (pilot in rear, copilot/gunner in front)

Blades, Main Rotor 2 ea

Blades, Tail Rotor 2 ea

Number of Engines 2 ea

Day/Night Capable Yes

All Weather Capable Yes

Takeoff or Landing Limitations INA

Number of Hard Points 4 ea

Landing Skids Yes

Dimensions

Fuselage Length 13.9 m

Main Rotor Diameter 14.63 m

Height 4.32 m

Weight, Maximum Take Off 6.69 tons

Weight, Empty 4.6 tons

Disc Area 168.1 m²

Stub Wing Span 3.28 m

Automotive

Engine Name 2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts

Engine Type Turboshaft

Engine Power 1725 hp for each engine

Fuel Capacity 1154.55 liters

Cruising Range 587-635 km

Speed, Maximum 315 km/h

Speed, Crusing 281 km/h

Service Ceiling 3.72 km

Rate of Climb 8.2 m/s

Ceiling 5,486 m

Hover IGE 4,267 m

Hover OGE 792 m

Endurance 3 hours

Note The second engine offers additional backup, as in case of failure or damage, the helicopter can still limp back home with one engine working

Chin Mounted Gun

System

Name 1 x M61 Vulcan

Type Hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon

Caliber 20 mm

Manufacturer General Dynamics

In Service 1946-Present

Length 1.827 m

Weight, With Feed System 112 kg

Weight, Without Feed System 92 kg

Barrels 6-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves)

Action Hydraulically operated, electrically fired, rotary cannon

Rate of Fire, M61A1 6,000 rds/min

Rate of Fire, M61A2 6,600 rds/min

Feed System Belt or linkless feed system

Note #1 The turret can pivot to both sides of the helicopter, as well as up and down.

Note #2 The Super Cobra can carry additional pods with miniguns on stub wings.

Ammunition

Name M53

Type HEI

Caliber 20 mm

Cartridge 20×102 mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,050 m/s

Armor Penetration 6.4 mm (0.25 in) RHA penetration at 0 degree impact angle and 1,000 m (3,300 ft) range

Basic Load 750 round

Note The M61 Vulcan can also fire M56A3/A4 and PGU-28A/B 20mm rounds

Wing Mounted Weapons

Additional Weapons the AH-1H can carry 8 x AGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles; or 2 x AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radar missiles; or 8 x AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles; or 4 x CMU-55B fuel-air explosive weapons; or 16 x 5-in (127-mm) Zuni rockets; or 4 x 78 gal (295-liter) auxiliary fuel tanks; or 2 x 100 gal (378-liter) auxiliary fuel tanks

Anti-Tank Guided Missile System

Name AGM-114 Hellfire

Type Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

Manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Boeing (previous second source), and Northrop Grumman (seeker only for AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire)

In Service 1984-Present

Length 1.6 m

Wingspan 330 mm

Diameter 180 mm

Weight 45-49 kg

Warhead Type High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT)

Engine Solid-fuel rocket

Operational Range 0.499–11.008 km

Speed Mach 1.3

Guidance system Semi-active laser homing millimeter wave radar seeker

Launch Platform Rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, unmanned combat air vehicles, tripods, ships, and ground vehicles

Basic Load 4 ea, one on each hardpoint ea

Note The Super Cobra is also armed with Hellfire or TOW anti-tank guided missiles. It can actually carry both types of missiles on the same mission.

Air-to-Air Missile

Name AIM-9 Sidewinder

Type short-range air-to-air missile

Length 3.02 m

Diameter 127 mm

Wingspan 279.4 mm

Manufacturer Raytheon Company[1] Ford Aerospace Loral Corp.

In Service 1956-Present

Weight 85.3 kg

Warhead Type WDU-17/B annular blast-frag

Warhead Weight 9.4 kg

Detonation Mechanism IR proximity fuze

Engine Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 Solid-fuel rocket

Operational Range 1.0 to 35.4 km

Speed Mach 2.5

Guidance system Infrared homing (most models) semi-active radar homing (AIM-9C

Launch platform Aircraft, naval vessels, fixed launchers, and ground vehicles

Basic Load 4 ea, one on each hardpoint

Note The Super Cobra can also carry AIM-92 Stinger short-range air-to-air missiles, and AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radiation missiles. This gunship also has provision for AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles.

Rockets and Bombs

Note The SuperCobra can also carry various pods with unguided rockets, cluster munitions, napalm bombs

Fire Control

Fire Control System Yes

Fire Control Radar Yes, type INA

Digital or Analog Cockpit INA

Direct Fire Control Yes

Laser Designator Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes

Sensor Suite(s) Available Yes, low speed air data sensor

Position Location System Yes

Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) Yes

TV Camera Low-light TV camera

Autotrack System Yes

Night Targeting System (NTS) Yes

Thermal Sights thermal sights and a FLIR to allow for acquisition, launch, and tracking of all types of TOW missiles in all weather conditions

Digital Ballistic Computer Yes

Heads Up Display Yes

Navigation Doppler navigation

In Flight Boresighting Yes

Protection

Fuselage Type The Super Cobra has a slim fuselage with a fighter-type cockpit

Cockpit Protection The cockpit is surrounded by armor protection. Armored cockpit can withstand small arms fire.

Tailboom Protection Tail boom are able withstand damage from 23-mm cannon hits.small arms fire, and composite blades and tailboom able to withstand damage from 23-mm cannon hits.

Stealth Properties No

Heat Signature Reduction INA

Add on Armor INA

NBC Protection Yes

EW INA

EW Counter Measures/CCM INA

Counter Measures (Chaff/Flares) AN/ALE-39 Chaff system and SUU-4/1 Flare dispensers

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1_SuperCobra; https://www.militarytoday.com/helicopters/ah1w_super_cobra.htm; https://www.military.com/equipment/ah-1w-super-cobra;

Image Sources

Notes https://www.military.com/equipment/ah-1w-super-cobra; https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Marine-Corps-USMC-AH-1W-Super-Cobra-helicopter-8X12-PHOTOGRAPH-/370770507532?_ul=IN; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1_SuperCobra;