Posted on 12/01/2010 7:58:58 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra was approved for full rate production Nov. 28.
The H-1 program office received official word on the milestone III approval decision from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Dr. Ashton B. Carter through an acquisition decision memorandum.
"This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals," said Col. Harry Hewson, the Marines' program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. "We spent the past two years executing a very detailed risk reduction program that tested every part of the weapons and fire control system on the AH-1Z. It performed very well in operational test last spring and I am confident that it will do as well in combat as the UH-1Y is doing right now in Afghanistan. The next phase of this program is getting the Zulu into the hands of the fleet and into combat. The Zulu is going to give the Marines on the ground a whole new level of long range targeting and precision firepower for close air support."
After completing operational testing this summer, the AH-1Z was determined to be operationally effective and suitable, a finding that is a prerequisite to the full rate production decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at navair.navy.mil ...
Ping
The world’s first purpose-designed helicopter gunship still going strong.
The first time I saw a Cobra was in Vietnam, in late 1967. As it flew overhead, I was glad it was one of “ours”.
LOL. And yes, the sarcasm tag is not necessary.
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