- For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey
The Bell Huey family of helicopters includes a wide range of civil and military aircraft produced since 1956 and still manufactured in 2009. This H-1 family of aircraft includes the utility UH-1 Iroquois and the derivative AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter series and ranges from the XH-40 prototype,...
The
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engine
attack helicopterAn attack helicopter is a military helicopter specifically designed and built to carry weapons for attacking targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry, armored vehicles and structures. Weapons used on attack helicopters can include autocannons, machine-guns, rockets, and guided missiles such...
based on the US Army's
AH-1 CobraThe AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
. The twin Cobra family includes the
AH-1J SeaCobra, the
AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the
AH-1W SuperCobra. The AH-1W is the backbone of the
United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
's attack helicopter fleet, but will be replaced in service by the
AH-1Z ViperThe Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps. The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearingless, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target sighting system. The AH-1Z is part of the...
upgrade in the next decade.
Design and development
The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as an interim gunship for the U.S. Army for use in Vietnam. The Cobra shared the proven transmission, rotor system, and the T53 turboshaft engine of the
UH-1 "Huey"The UH-1 Iroquois is a multipurpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam War. It is commonly known as the "Huey"....
.
By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered. Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the U.S. Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam.
The U.S. Marine Corps was very interested in the AH-1G Cobra, but preferred a
twin-engined version for improved safety in over-water operations, and also wanted a more potent turret-mounted weapon. At first, the Department of Defense had balked at providing the Marines with a twin-engined version of the Cobra, in the belief that commonality with Army AH-1Gs outweighed the advantages of a different engine fit. However, the Marines won out and awarded Bell a contract for 49 twin-engined AH-1J SeaCobras in May 1968. As an interim measure, the U.S. Army passed on 38 AH-1Gs to the Marines in 1969. The AH-1J also received a more powerful gun turret. It featured a three barrel 20 mm
XM197The M197 electric cannon is a three-barreled electric Gatling gun developed primarily for use by United States Army helicopter gunships.Development of the M197 began in 1967 after experience in the Vietnam War revealed the inadequacy of the 7.62 mm Minigun for gunship use...
cannon that was based on the six barrel
M61 VulcanThe M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style cannon, which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft for...
cannon.
The Marine Corps requested greater load carrying capability in high temperatures for the Cobra in the 1970s. Bell used systems from the
Model 309The Bell Model 309 King Cobra was an experimental attack helicopter based on Bell's successful AH-1 Cobra.-Background:The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as an interim gunship for the U.S. Army for use Vietnam...
to develop the AH-1T. This version had a lengthened tailboom and fuselage with an upgraded transmission and engines from the 309. Bell designed the AH-1T to be more reliable and easier to maintain in the field. The version was given full TOW capability with targeting system and other sensors. An advanced version, known as the AH-1T+ with more powerful
T700-GE-700The General Electric T700 and CT7 are a family of turboshaft and turboprop engines in the 1500-3000 shp class.-Development:In 1967, General Electric began work on a new turboshaft engine demonstrator designated the "GE12" in response to US Army interest in a next-generation utility helicopter...
engines and advanced avionics was proposed to Iran in the late 1970s, but the overthrow of the Shah of Iran resulted in the sale being canceled.
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Marine Corps sought a new navalized helicopter, but was denied funding to buy the
AH-64 ApacheThe AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with reverse-tricycle landing gear, and tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra...
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 SidewinderThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
and
AGM-114 HellfireThe AGM-114 Hellfire is a multi-platform, multi-target United States modular missile system. The name comes from the fact that it was originally intended to be a helicopter-launched fire-and-forget weapon...
missiles. The new version was funded by Congress and received the AH-1W designation. At least 266 were delivered.
The AH-1T+ demonstrator and AH-1W prototype was later tested with a new experimental composite four blade main rotor system. The new system offered better performance, reduced noise and improved battle damage tolerance. Lacking a USMC contract, Bell developed this new design into the AH-1Z with its own funds. By 1996, the Marines were again not allowed to order the AH-64. Developing a marine version of the Apache would have been expensive and it was likely that the Marine Corps would be its only customer. They instead signed a contract for upgrading 180 AH-1Ws into AH-1Zs.
The
AH-1Z ViperThe Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps. The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearingless, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target sighting system. The AH-1Z is part of the...
features several design changes. The AH-1Z's two redesigned wing stubs are longer with each adding a wing-tip station for a missile such as the
AIM-9 SidewinderThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
. Each wing has two other stations for 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra rocket pods, or
AGM-114 HellfireThe AGM-114 Hellfire is a multi-platform, multi-target United States modular missile system. The name comes from the fact that it was originally intended to be a helicopter-launched fire-and-forget weapon...
quad missile launcher. The Longbow radar can be mounted on a wing tip station.
Operational history
During the closing months of the United States' involvement in the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
, the Marine Corps embarked the AH-1J SeaCobra assigned to HMA-369 (now HMLA-369) in
USS Denver (LPD-9)USS Denver , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of United States Navy to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A...
,
USS Cleveland (LPD-7)USS Cleveland , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city in Ohio. Her keel was laid down at Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi...
, and later
USS Dubuque (LPD-8), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Dubuque, Iowa.-History:...
for sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in North Vietnam in the vicinity of Hon La (Tiger) Island. These were termed Marine Hunter-Killer (MARHUK) Operations and lasted from June to December 1972.
Marine Cobras took part in the invasion of Grenada, during Operation Urgent Fury in 1983, flying close-support and helicopter escort missions. Two Marine AH-1Ts were shot down and three crewmen killed. USMC Cobras participated in the Persian Gulf escort operations in the late 1980s, and sank three Iranian patrol boats while losing a single AH-1T to Iranian anti-aircraft fire. USMC Cobras from the
USS Saipan (LHA-2)USS Saipan is a , the second United States Navy ship named in honor of the World War II Battle of Saipan.-History:Saipan was laid down on July 21, 1972 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi; launched on July 20, 1974; sponsored by Mrs. J...
flew "top cover" during an evacuation of American and other foreign nationals from Liberia in 1990.
During the 1983 Marine multinational force operations off the coast of
BeirutBeirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2.1 million as of 2007. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean sea, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which...
,
LebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of Lebanon
[Republic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies...]
during that nations
civil warThe Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in the nation of Lebanon in the Middle East. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 130,000 to 250,000 civilian fatalities...
the AH-1 was deployed. Faced with the possibility of a threat involving the suicide delivery of airborne explosives loaded on light civil aircraft, the AH-1s were employed armed with sidewinder missiles and guns on a ready-alert status as an air defense asset in the absence of carrier based fixed wing cover or STOVL fighters.
During
Operation Desert Shield*Operation Desert Shield was the name of the mobilization of American troops into Saudi Arabia at the time of the Gulf War*Operation Desert Shield was the English translation of the name of a 2006 operation by Al Qaeda in Iraq to push American troops out of the country....
in 1990, and Operation Desert Storm in Jan-Feb 1991, Cobras and SeaCobras deployed to Iraq in a support role. A total of 78 Marine SeaCobras flew 1,273 sorties with no combat losses. Three AH-1s were lost in accidents during combat operations and afterwards. Marine AH-1Ws destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personal carriers and vehicles, and two anti-aircraft artillery sites during the 100-hour ground campaign.
IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanid period and came into international use from 1935, before which the country was known internationally as Persia...
ian AH-1J SeaCobras participated in air combat with Iraqi Mi-24s on several separate occasions during the Iran–Iraq War. The results of these engagements are disputed. One document cited that "Iranian AH-1Js engaged Iraqi MI-8 Hip and MI-24 Hind helicopters. Unclassified sources report that the Iranian AH-1 pilots achieved a 10:1 kill ratio over the Iraqi helicopter pilots during these engagements (1:5). Additionally, Iranian AH-1 and Iraqi fixed wing aircraft engagements also occurred. Others claim that in the entire eight-year conflict, ten Iranian AH-1Js were lost in combat, compared to six Iraqi Mi-24. The skirmishes are described as fairly evenly matched in another source. Iranian AH-1Js are still operating today and have undergone indigenous upgrade programs. In 1988, two Soviet MiG-23s shot down a pair of Iranian AH-1Js that had strayed into western Afghan airspace.
Marine Cobras provided support for the US humanitarian intervention in Somalia, during Operation Restore Hope in 1992-1993. They were also employed during the US invasion of Haiti in 1994. USMC Cobras were used in US military interventions in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and assisted in the rescue of USAF Captain
Scott O'GradyScott F. O'Grady is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot who gained prominence after the Mrkonjić Grad incident, in which he ejected over Bosnia when his F-16C was shot down by a Bosnian Serb SA-6 while he was patrolling the no-fly zone...
, after his F-16 was shot down by a SAM in June 1995.
The Turkish Army has been using its AH-1 gunships for their operations against rebel Kurds on both sides of the Iraqi border.
AH-1 Cobras continue to operate with the U.S. Marine Corps. USMC Cobras were also used in operations throughout the 1990s. USMC Cobras have also served in
Operation Enduring FreedomOperation Enduring Freedom is the official name used by the U.S. Government for its War in Afghanistan and Iraq, together with three smaller military actions, under the umbrella of its Global War on Terror...
in Afghanistan and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the ongoing
conflict in IraqThe Iraq War, also known as the Occupation of Iraq or Operation Iraqi Freedom, is an ongoing military campaign which began on March 20, 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a multinational force led by troops from the United States and the United Kingdom.Prior to the war, the governments of the United...
. While new replacement aircraft were considered as an alternative to major upgrades of the AH-1 fleet, Marine Corps studies showed that an upgrade was the most affordable, most supportable and most effective solution for the Marine Corps light attack helicopter mission.
Single-engine
- For AH-1G, AH-1Q through AH-1S/P/E/F and other single-engine variants, see AH-1 Cobra
The AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
.
Twin-engine
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 tailboom and fuselage and an upgraded transmission and engines.
AH-1W SuperCobra: ("Whiskey Cobra"), day/night version with more powerful engines and advanced weapons capability.
AH-1Z ViperThe Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps. The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearingless, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target sighting system. The AH-1Z is part of the...
: ("Zulu Cobra"), in conjunction with the
UH-1Y VenomThe Bell UH-1Y Venom is a twin-engine medium size utility helicopter, part of the United States Marine Corps' H-1 upgrade program. The helicopter is also called Yankee for its variant letter....
upgrade. Version includes an upgraded 4 blade main rotor and adds the Night Targeting System (NTS).
Model 309 King CobraThe Bell Model 309 King Cobra was an experimental attack helicopter based on Bell's successful AH-1 Cobra.-Background:The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as an interim gunship for the U.S. Army for use Vietnam...
: Experimental version. One of two 309s was powered by
Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 is one of the most popular turboprop aircraft engines in history. It is produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada in a wide variety of models, covering the power range between 580 and 920 shaft horsepower in the original series, and up to in the "large" lines...
twin engine system, as later used on AH-1J.
CobraVenom: Proposed version for the United Kingdom.
AH-1RO Dracula: Proposed version for Romania.
AH-1Z King Cobra: AH-1Z offered under Turkey's
ATAKThe Agusta A129 Mangusta is an attack helicopter originally designed and produced by Agusta in Italy. It was the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Western Europe...
program; selected for production in 2000, but later canceled when Bell and Turkey could not reach an agreement on production.
Panha 2091The Panha 2091 is an Iranian overhaul and upgrade of the Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra light-attack helicopters purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution...
: unlicensed Iranian upgrade of the AH-1J International.
Operators
- Islamic Republic of Iran Army
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army is the ground force of the Military of Islamic Republic of Iran. In Iran, it is also called Artesh, which is Persian for "army." As of 2007, the regular Iranian Army was estimated to have 650,000 personnel plus around 300,000 reservists for a total of 950,000...
received 202 AH-1J Internationals. Iran operates 50 AH-1Js as of November 2008. An unknown number of the Panha 2091The Panha 2091 is an Iranian overhaul and upgrade of the Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra light-attack helicopters purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution...
, an unlicensed, locally-made upgrade of AH-1J International serve with the Army and Revolutionary Guards.
- Republic of China Army
The Republic of China Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China...
received 63 AH-1Ws and operates 59 AH-1Ws as of 2008.
- Turkish Army
The Turkish Land Forces is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. It is one of the largest standing armies in the world and the second largest army of NATO....
operates 7 AH-1W Super Cobras as of 2008.
- United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
has approximately 167 AH-1Ws as of 2008.
- HMLA-167
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS New River
- HMLA-169
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS Camp Pendleton
- HMLA-267
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS Camp Pendleton
- HMLA-269
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS New River
- HMLA-367
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS Camp Pendleton
- HMLA-369
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS Camp Pendleton
- HMLA-467
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopters...
, MCAS Cherry Point
- HMLA-773
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 49...
, NAS Atlanta
- HMLAT-303
Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303 , is a United States Marine Corps helicopter training squadron stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Known as the "Atlas", HMT-303 trains newly commissioned Naval Aviators, conversion pilots, refresher pilots, and enlisted aircrew on...
, MCAS Camp Pendleton
- Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation
While other nations have Marines who are aviators, only the United States Marine Corps has its own dedicated aviation arm. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures.All Marine...
, the Marine Corps will be adding three active duty light/attack helicopter squadrons in the next few years. It will add HMLA-469Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of Marine...
and HMLA-567 during 2009.
- United States Navy
The United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
used 7 AH-1Ws for test and evaluation purposes on behalf of the USMC.
AH-1J SeaCobra
AH-1W SuperCobra
See also
External links