Bell AH-1

QAH-1S


A target drone conversion of the AH-1S by Bell-Bristol Aerospace under a joint US and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] development program started in 1994. Honeywell further modified the QAH-1S into the Hokum-X by installing systems and hardware to allow it to simulate the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] attack helicopter. Three Hokum-Xs were completed from 1998-2001.^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}

Model 249

Experimental demonstrator version fitted with a four-bladed rotor system, an uprated engine and experimental equipment, including Hellfire missiles.

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Experimental version. One of two 309s produced was powered by a Lycoming T-55-L-7C engine.

Twin-engine

Bell AH-1 SuperCobra


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The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engine [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] based on the US Army's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The twin Cobra family includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra.

The AH-1W is the backbone of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s attack helicopter fleet, but will be replaced in service by the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the next decade.

Design and development


The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as an interim gunship for the U.S. Army for use in Vietnam.

The Cobra shared the proven transmission, rotor system, and the T53 turboshaft engine of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered.

Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the U.S. Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam.

The U.S. Marine Corps was very interested in the AH-1G Cobra, but preferred a twin-engined version for improved safety in over-water operations, and also wanted a more potent turret-mounted weapon.

At first, the Department of Defense had balked at providing the Marines with a twin-engined version of the Cobra, in the belief that commonality with Army AH-1Gs outweighed the advantages of a different engine fit.

However, the Marines won out and awarded Bell a contract for 49 twin-engined AH-1J SeaCobras in May 1968.

As an interim measure, the U.S. Army passed on 38 AH-1Gs to the Marines in 1969.

^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} The AH-1J also received a more powerful gun turret. It featured a three barrel 20 mm [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] cannon that was based on the six barrel [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] cannon.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

AH-1 W

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The Marine Corps requested greater load carrying capability in high temperatures for the Cobra in the 1970s.

Bell used systems from its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to develop the AH-1T.

This version had a lengthened tailboom and fuselage with an upgraded transmission and engines from the 309.

Bell designed the AH-1T to be more reliable and easier to maintain in the field.

The version was given full TOW missile capability with targeting system and other sensors.

An advanced version, known as the AH-1T+ with more powerful [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] engines and advanced avionics was proposed to Iran in the late 1970s, but the overthrow of the Shah of Iran resulted in the sale being canceled.

A plane director aboard the amphibious assault ship USS IWO JIMA (LPH 2) signals to an AH-1T Sea Cobra helicopter during the multinational joint service Exercise BRIGHT STAR '85

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In the early 1980s, the U.S. Marine Corps sought a new navalized helicopter, but was denied funding to buy the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] by Congress in 1981.

The Marines in turn pursued a more powerful version of the AH-1T.

Other changes included modified fire control systems to carry and fire [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] missiles.

The new version was funded by Congress and received the AH-1W designation.

^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}Deliveries of AH-1W SuperCobras totaled 179 new-built helicopters plus 43 upgrades of AH-1Ts.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]