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Air Power
Bell AH-1 "Cobra"

The AH-1 Super Cobra is a two-place, twin-engine attack helicopter capable of land- or sea-based operations. It provides rotary-wing close air support (CAS), anti-armor/anti-helicopter, armed escort, armed and visual reconnaissance, and supporting arms coordination (SAC) during day/night and adverse weather conditions.

The Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter has struck fear in the hearts of the enemy for more than 30 years. Armed helicopters came into widespread use in Vietnam in the early Sixties. Limitations of the modified armed utility helicopters used led to the specially configured attack helicopter. Instead, the AH-1F Cobra, with its proven firepower and maneuverability, went on to fight in every major US military operation since Vietnam. The Cobra continues its service with the US Marines, as well as eight other foreign nations.

The Cobra traces its lineage from the UH-1 Huey and was originally developed for the US Army in the mid-sixties. The original Cobra retained the Huey's engine, transmission, and other major parts, but replaced the Huey's bulky fuselage with a thin profile fuselage with tandem seating. The Marine Corps later adopted a twin engine variant of the airframe to perform troop helicopter escort and provide autonomous tank killing capability. Through the years, the Cobra has gone through extensive modernization. Today's Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra boasts an advanced Night Targeting System (NTS) and a full suite of survivability equipment.

The primary missions of the Cobra are helicopter Close Air Support (CAS), escort of transport helicopters and ground convoys, armed reconnaissance, helicopter air-to-air attack, anti-shipping operations, and coordination and terminal control of fixed wing CAS, artillery, mortars, and naval gunfire.It is the only western attack helicopter with a proven air-to-air and anti-radar missile capability. The rear seat pilot is primarily responsible for maneuvering the aircraft. The front pilot controls the aircraft's weapons systems, but he also has a full set aircraft controls.

Specifications:
Contractor: Bell Helicopter TEXTRON, Inc. (Prime), General Electric, Kollsman Inc.
Power Plant: Two General Electric T700-GE-401 Turboshaft engines with 1,690 horsepower each.
Accommodations: Two seats, in tandem (pilot in rear, copilot/gunner in front)

Dimensions:
Main rotor diameter: 14.63 m
Tail rotor diameter: 02.97 m
Wing span: 03.28 m
Length: overall, rotors turning 17.68 m
Length: fuselage 13.87 m
Width overall: 03.28 m
Height: (to top of rotor head) 04.11 m

Performance :
Climb rate: 1,925 feet per minute
Maximum altitude: 14,750 feet
Maximum attainable speed: 170 knots (195 mph)
Maximum cruising speed: 152 knots (173 mph)
Range at S/L with standard fuel, no reserves: 317 nm

Armaments:
One M197 three barrel 20 mm gun (mounted under the nose with 750 round ammo container)
Underwing attachments for:
four TOW missiles, or
eight Hellfire missiles, or
one AIM-9L Sidewinder missile
Can also be equipped with Zuni rocket launchers

Countermeasures: AN/ALE-39 Chaff system and SUU-4/1 Flare dispensers