Sell-off of USMC AH-1W SuperCobras an opportunity for Ukraine?

2018/1/19 13:41:57

Whether acquisition of SuperCobras [pictured] would be a good choice for Ukraine is uncertain but it does seem an option worth serious investigation.

 


 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, Jan 19, 2018 (UBO): As Ukraine upgrades its military and begins a period of slowly bringing its forces into higher levels of interoperability with Western armed forces, an upgrade of US Marine Corps helicopter capabilities may be an opportunity for Ukraine.

 

A report by Gareth Jennings of Jane's Defence Weekly on Jan 18 says that the US government had decided that it will make USMC AH-1W SuperCobras now being declared excess to US needs may be sold to friendly governments. Whether acquisition of SuperCobras would be a good choice for Ukraine is uncertain but it does seem an option worth serious investigation.

 

For those unfamiliar with the AH-1W SuperCobra, the Jane’s article says in part:

 

Having entered service with the USMC in 1986, the AH-1W is a highly capable variant of the Vietnam War-era AH-1 Cobra that is still in global service with countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. The surplus SuperCobras could either boost some of these existing fleets, or provide a new dedicated rotary-attack capability to a new customer.

 

Powered by twin General Electric T700-GE-401 engines, the AH-1W has a top speed of 147 kt, a range of 256 n miles (474 km), and a service ceiling of 18,700 ft (limited to 10,000 ft by oxygen requirements), all in a basic combat configuration.

 

With a maximum take-off weight of 6,697 kg, the platform is equipped with a nose-mounted 20 mm Gatling-gun with 750 rounds, and has four external wing stations that can fire 70 mm and 127 mm rockets, TOW and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and Sidearm anti-radiation missiles. It is equipped with a night targeting system/forward looking infrared radar that provides laser range-finding/designating and camera capabilities.

 

For more on the story, link below:

http://www.janes.com/article/77142/us ... o-international-customers

 

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