PANHA 2091 (Toufan) Light Attack Helicopter (1998)
The PANHA 2091 Toufan is a local Iranian production copy of the American Bell AH-1 SeaCobra with modern modifications to suit IRIA requirements.
Over time, however, these helicopter systems began to naturally show their age in terms of battlefield viability. As such, an indigenous program was devised to help produce a more refined end-product for the Iranian Army - using locally-produced parts and technology wherever possible. The end result became the PANHA 2091 "Toufan", a modernized and upgraded version of the original American Bell AH-1J International series. PANHA represents the Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company and the program is known as "Project 2091" with the nickname of "Toufan" currently assigned. PANHA has proven itself capable of reverse-engineering various complex system types in the past and has shown a penchant for helicopters in general - particularly American Bell models- and also serves to maintain these platforms for the Iranian military. The PANHA 2091 was unveiled in 1998 and is currently in limited active operational service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
The Iranian version's most notable visual feature is the new bulletproof canopy design. However, a deeper observational dissection of the revamped helicopter will yield all-new forward and rear cockpit instrument panels, a new avionics suite, a revised cockpit armoring plates and a nose-mounted FLIR camera system. A Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) has also been installed to help manage protection of the vulnerable rear quarters of the aircraft. Integrated GPS has been integrated for improved battlefield navigation. The Toufan retains the American three-barrel M197 20mm Gatling cannon in its A/A49E powered chin turret assembly. The helicopter also makes use of the conventional landing skids along each side of the thin fuselage though the fuselage itself is said to have been made even thinner than her original form. The Toufan obviously keeps its short armament wingstubs intact for the fitting of various weaponry such as rocket pods and anti-tank guided missiles. The wingstub tips are also thought to support the "Misagh-2" short-ranged surface-to-air missile based on the Chinese copy of the American AIM-9 "Sidewinder".
The Toufan will likely field a single turboshaft engine perhaps even based on the original's Pratt & Whitney due to Iranian operational and engineering experience with this powerplant. This will power the same two-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor (set to the starboard side of the fuselage) found on the AH-1J International with an estimated output of 1,530 shaft horsepower. Maximum speed is estimated around 147 miles per hour with a range out to 373 miles based on available information. The operating crew will remain a pilot and gunner with the former seated at the rear in the tandem-seat arrangement and the latter in the forward cockpit seat.
To date, some ten PANHA 2091 Toufans have been delivered to the Iranian Army. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
PANHA 2091 (Toufan)
Light Attack Helicopter
Country of Origin: Iran
Manufacturer: PANHA - Iran
Initial Year of Service: 1998
Production: 10
Focus Model: PANHA 2091 (Toufan)
Crew: 2
Length: 52.49ft (16m)
Width: 42.65ft (13.00m)
Height: 13.12ft (4.00m)
Weight (Empty): 6,177lbs (2,802kg)
Weight (MTOW): 9,987lbs (4,530kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney-based (assumed) turboshaft engines developing 1,800 shaft horsepower each to two-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor.
Maximum Speed: 147mph (236kmh; 127kts)
Maximum Range: 373miles (600km)
Service Ceiling: 39,370ft (12,000m; 7.5miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,620 feet per minute (494m/min)
Hardpoints: 6 (including wingstub tips)
Armament Suite:
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm M197 3-barreled autocannon in M97 turret assembly.
OPTIONAL:
2.75-inch Hydra-type unguided high-explosive rockets in launch pods.
5-inch Zuni unguided high-explosive rockets in launch pods.
2 x Misagh-2 (AIM-9 Sidewinder) short-range air-to-air missiles on wingstub tips.
Anti-tank guided missiles (assumed)
Variants:
2091 "Toufan" - Base Series Designation
Operators: Iran
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