Posted on 09/29/2010 8:53:12 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
AH-1Z helicopters found operationally effective and suitable
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The U.S. Marine Corps’ newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra has successfully completed its Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL).
On Sept. 24, NAVAIR’s H-1 Upgrades program office received official notification from the Navy’s Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force that its AH-1Z helicopters were found to be “operationally effective and suitable” and were been recommended for fleet introduction.
“This marks a significant milestone for the program,” said Col. Harry Hewson, program manager for U.S. Marine light and attack helicopters. “The AH-1Z has come a long way through development and it has finally proven itself as a lethal and reliable attack helicopter. The Marines in the fleet are very eager to get their hands on the Zulu and get it into the fight.”
A total of 189 new and remanufactured AH-1Z helicopters are anticipated, with deliveries expected to be complete by the end of 2021.
The AH-1Z Cobra helicopters are part of the U.S. Marine Corps H-1 Upgrade Program. The program’s goal is to replace AH-1W helicopters with new and remanufactured AH-1Zs which provide significantly greater performance, supportability and growth potential over their predecessors.
The evaluation report noted that the AH-1Z fire control and additional weapons delivery modes allowed for improved weapons delivery accuracy, reduced pilot workload, and enhanced employment flexibility compared with the AH-1W.
The H-1 Upgrade Program offers 84 percent “identically” of parts shared between the AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters. This commonality reduces lifecycle and training costs and decreases the logistics footprint for both aircraft.
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Wow! Im getting a tingle up my leg just thinking of the firepower.
I thought they called the “Z” Viper? Sweet bird.
I have always loved the Cobra. They can take a licking and keep on ticking.
Seems like it needs something...
Dunno. A couple Sidewinders, eight Hellfires, two 2.75” rocket pods, a chain gun.
Seems like it needs something
needs talyban
Proof that a good design is worth keeping and improving on.
Oh gawd that picture is goooooooooddd!!
I need a cigarette.
It’s nice to see the little big brother of the HUGHES 500D come of age.
Yeah! That’s it!
Not too shabby.
Sweet hi-res image at link.
Seems like it needs something...
photon torpedoes? frequency-modulating phasers? cloaking capability? trans-warp drive?
Here’s a 72’ vintage AH-1G for comparison.
[img]http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i103/BABunny/CobraPilot.jpg?t=1285821480[/img]
Photon torpedeoes would ignite the atmosphere. Cloaking devise might be nice; shields more practical. Rotor blades wouldn’t survive trans-warp drive.
Thanks for the memories.
I worked at the facility that produced the Cobras and Hueys of all generations from 1965 to 2002, including the V-22 Osprey. The press gives little coverage to the Cobras but gets a tingle up their legs about competing attack aircraft. Cobras are awesome. Just ask the pilots and those protected by them.
Designs never get sleeker and lighter, do they ?
Sure they would. Just enhance them with Borg technology. (It looks like the rest of the bird was already absorbed into the collective............)
saw 3 Cobra’s zipping down the coast while vacationing @ North Myrtle Beach.
They did a flyover at the last Virginia Tech home football game.
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