Bell AH-1 Assault Helicopter

The Bell AH-1W SuperCobra twin-engined attack helicopter, delivered to the USMC from 1986, was developed from the ubiquitous AH-1, versions of which served the Army (AH-1G) and Marines (AH-1T SeaCobra). They all have their roots in the Bell company’s 1950s studieds related to armed helicopters that led to the OH-13X modified version of the Bell 47/AH-47 Sious and the UH-1/AH-1 Huey/Model 209 HueyCobra. The later entered Army service as the AH-1G in the 1960’s, and were deployed to Vietnam as gunships from September 1967. The AH-1G performed well in Southeast Asia. It’s small size made it difficult to hit, while the Army found that it could reach the the target in about half the time taken by a Huey Helicopter.

The AH-1Q, armed with eight TOW anti-tank missiles, followed for the Army, while the AH-1R featured a more powerful engine, gearbox and transmission. For the AH-1S the engines were further uprated and became a standard model.

The Marines had ordered the AH-1J SeaCobara, and 67 were delivered from February 1971, and these were shipped to Vietnam, joining the Corps’ interim order of 38 AH-1Gs. The Marines preferred the Pratt & Whitney twinpac engine that gave not only increased power but also safety while flying over the sea. The AH-1T featured additional armaments including TOW, which required increased power. The improved engine and transmission resulted in increased sized tailboom and fuselage. Design improvements were also made to improve reliability.

In 1985 the AH-1W entered service with the Marines as the SuperCobra, with full night fighting capability using the Night Targeting System (NTS). Further power improvements enabled the helicopter to be the first to carry air-to-air missles, including Sidewinders, as well as Sidearm anti-radiation missles. Armed with a three-barrel 20mm Gatling gun, the SuperCobra can also launch a range of rockets and rocket bombs.

An AH-1W remanufacture upgrade program is currently being implemented to produce the AH-1Z. Among the many enhancements will be replacement of the two-bladed rotor head, which produces a distinctive sound, by a new hingeless and bearingless four-bladed main rotor head, with semi-automatic folding to keep the footprint to a minimum, reductions in rotor vibration, and significant increases in the flight envelope, payload, maximum speed, and vertical rate of climb, as well as advanced targeting and electronic warfare systems. The first batch of AH-1Zs are in the process of being delivered. A similar program is being conducted with the Corps’ UH-1N utility helicopters.

While the Army retird their Cobras in 1999, deliveries of the Bell AH-1Z SuperCobra are planned out to 2013, enabling the Marine Corps to have a capable attack and escort helicopter to operate well into the future.