Army and Weapons | Deadly Helicopter Bell AH-1 Super Cobra | The AH-1W Super Cobra is a two-place, twin-engine, day / night marginal weather Marine Corps attack helicopter escort for assault helicopters on their way and began offering their forces. It was the only western attack helicopter with a proven air-to-air and anti-radar missile capability. The primary mission of the AH-1W aircraft is as an armed tactical helicopter capable of helo close air support, low altitude and high speed flight, targeted search and acquisition, reconnaissance by fire, multiple weapons fire support, troop helicopter support, and point target attack of threatening armor. The AH-1W provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore.
The AH-1W is a two-place, tandem-seat, twin-engine helicopter capable of land-or sea-based operations. The rear seat pilot is primarily responsible for maneuvering the aircraft. The front pilot controls the aircraft weapon systems, but also has a full set of flight controls. The AH-1W distinguished himself with his powerful T700-GE-401 engines and advanced electronic marinized full weapons power. The AH-1W was significantly improved power available in high altitude, warm environment, and some engine performance. The Super Cobra is equipped with a 20mm gun turret, and is qualified to carry TOW, Hellfire, Sidewinder, Sidearm missiles, and 5-inch or 2.75 inch rockets. Hellfire Missile System increased supply ammunition and firepower capabilities. The AH-1W Super Cobra provides full night-fighting capabilities with the AN/AWS-1 (V) 1 Night Targeting System (NTS). The AN/AWS-1 (V) 1 AH-1W NTS enhances's warfighting capability by adding FLIR sensor, CCD TV sensor, Laser Designator Code / Range Finder, Automatic Target Tracking and FLIR, and CCD TV video recording.
AH-1W assets are composed of a mixture of new production AH-1Ws and aircraft block upgrade AH-1TS remanufactured AH-1W in the aircraft. By the early 1980s, USMC aircraft inventory was down due to natural attrition. A fully navalized helicopter was sought. In 1983, the USMC contracted with Bell Helicopter International, 44 AH-1Ws. An upgrade of the AH-1T, the AH-1W was received in 1986. Tactical Navigation System (TNS) was placed in all production and block upgrade AH-1W aircraft since February 1991. Previously supplied AH-1Ws were retrofit with TNS prior to CCM / NTS induction. The NTS / Canopy / Cockpit Modification (CCM) replaces the existing canopy, nose spoils, and copilot / gunner instrument panel to complete the set AN/AWS-1 (V) 1 NTS and added to the TNS, CDU-800, the front cockpit. Moreover, a communication / navigation upgrade, ECP 1686, included an ARC-210 (V) Electronic Protection (EP) Radio, an ARN-153 (V) 4 TACAN, and AN/ASN-163 a Global Positioning System / Inertial Navigation System (EGI) begins in 1996.
The AN/AWS-1 (V) 1 TECHEVAL NTS was conducted from May to September 1993 by VX-5 at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD), China Lake, Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, White Sands Missile Range , New Mexico, Bridgeport, California, and amphibious ships at sea. Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT & E) (OT-IIIA) commenced in February 1994 and closed in May 1994. AN/AWS-1 (V) 1 NTS OPEVAL was conducted from May to September 1993 by VX-5 at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD), China Lake, Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Cold Lake, Canada, and amphibious ships at sea. Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT & E) started in July 1994 and ended in April 1995.
The AN/AWS-1 (V) with an upgrade NTS increased emissions, safety and performance characteristics and processes a Canopy / Cockpit Modification of the front cockpit. The approved Osip included the ARC-210 (V) EP Radio, the ARN-153 (V) 4, and TACAN AN/ASN-163 the Global Positioning System / Embedded Inertial Navigation System (EGI). AN/ASN-163 (V) is expected to be the AH-1W Weapon Systems to improve on their creation.
ECP 1674 Electronic Warfare (EW) suite was also proposed to reduce aircraft vulnerability to electronic countermeasures. The suite is designed to alert and protect the aircraft against ground-air and air-air missiles. The AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System (MWS) provides visual and audible warning to crews of missile detection, while at the same time the MWS is designed to initiate countermeasures by sending a signal to the eject AN/ALE- 39 Countermeasures Dispenser Set (CDS). Laser Warning Receiver The AN/AVR-2 detects pulsed laser light (such as a rangefinder) directed at the helicopter and warns the crew of this activity. It provided an audio alert and identify the threat of its type and location relative to the helicopter. The AN/APR-39A (V) 2 Radar Detection System (RDS) is a passive omni-directional detection system that receive and display information to the pilot concerning the radar environment of the helicopter.
ECP 1674 Electronic Warfare (EW) suite was also proposed to reduce aircraft vulnerability to electronic countermeasures. The suite is designed to alert and protect the aircraft against ground-air and air-air missiles. The AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System (MWS) provides visual and audible warning to crews of missile detection, while at the same time the MWS is designed to initiate countermeasures by sending a signal to the eject AN/ALE- 39 Countermeasures Dispenser Set (CDS). Laser Warning Receiver The AN/AVR-2 detects pulsed laser light (such as a rangefinder) directed at the helicopter and warns the crew of this activity. It provided an audio alert and identify the threat of its type and location relative to the helicopter. The AN/APR-39A (V) 2 Radar Detection System (RDS) is a passive omni-directional detection system that receive and display information to the pilot concerning the radar environment of the helicopter.
The AH-1W is operated in eight composite HMLA squadrons composed of 18 AH-1 and 9 UH-1 aircraft. The NTS / FLIR upgrades were made to the AH-1W aircraft after commissioning.
The Marine Corps deployed four of the six active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. The deployment requires no additional magnification squadron support personnel and only one Bell Helicopter technical representative. During Operation Desert Storm, the AH-1W comprises less than 20% of the attack helicopter force, but flew more than 50% of the total attack force flight-hours. Throughout Desert Shield / Desert Storm campaign, Super Cobras flew more than three times the number of hours per aircraft per month than any other attack helicopter. During the "100 hours war," the reliability and mission readiness rate of 92% was superior to all other attack helicopters by as much as 24% without any factory supported service augmentation. Perhaps most impressive was that this record was obtained under the worst conditions ever endured in modern warfare. Temperatures consistently reached 57-63 ° C (135-145 ° F) range. A mix of fine granite / limestone sand dust the consistency of talcum powder, was a constant threat for man and machine. The air was often filled with a black brew of burning oil and blowing sand The final result was that the Marine Corps AH-1W and their crews destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored cars and vehicles, 16 bunkers and two antiaircraft artillery sites.
Future upgrades included provisions for an inflatable body and head Restraint System (IBAHRS). The IBAHRS itself would be recognized upon receipt of the system. An operational requirement was identified for a Wing Tip Armament Station modification and retrofit. Upon approval, this upgrade will be included in the AH-1W airframe and would include at least the provisions for the integration of up to six (6) universal weapons stations. Cockpit Integration Requirement in the operational requirements document for the AH-1W Mid Life Upgrade should be directed to the four Bladed program that was studied as another future AH-1W weapon accessories. The latter improvement was eventually incorporated into the AH-1Z upgrade.
<
The Marine Corps deployed four of the six active force squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. The deployment requires no additional magnification squadron support personnel and only one Bell Helicopter technical representative. During Operation Desert Storm, the AH-1W comprises less than 20% of the attack helicopter force, but flew more than 50% of the total attack force flight-hours. Throughout Desert Shield / Desert Storm campaign, Super Cobras flew more than three times the number of hours per aircraft per month than any other attack helicopter. During the "100 hours war," the reliability and mission readiness rate of 92% was superior to all other attack helicopters by as much as 24% without any factory supported service augmentation. Perhaps most impressive was that this record was obtained under the worst conditions ever endured in modern warfare. Temperatures consistently reached 57-63 ° C (135-145 ° F) range. A mix of fine granite / limestone sand dust the consistency of talcum powder, was a constant threat for man and machine. The air was often filled with a black brew of burning oil and blowing sand The final result was that the Marine Corps AH-1W and their crews destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored cars and vehicles, 16 bunkers and two antiaircraft artillery sites.
Future upgrades included provisions for an inflatable body and head Restraint System (IBAHRS). The IBAHRS itself would be recognized upon receipt of the system. An operational requirement was identified for a Wing Tip Armament Station modification and retrofit. Upon approval, this upgrade will be included in the AH-1W airframe and would include at least the provisions for the integration of up to six (6) universal weapons stations. Cockpit Integration Requirement in the operational requirements document for the AH-1W Mid Life Upgrade should be directed to the four Bladed program that was studied as another future AH-1W weapon accessories. The latter improvement was eventually incorporated into the AH-1Z upgrade.
