"The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helicopter represents an evolved, twin-engine variant of the original Vietnam War-era AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter line."
The AH-1 "SuperCobra" is a further evolution of the original Vietnam War-era AH-1 "Cobra" born in the 1960s. The SuperCobra is differentiated primarily by its twin-engine configuration compared to the single-engine nature of the Cobra system. The SuperCobra achieved its first flight in 1969 and entered service (as the AH-1J) in 1971. This was followed by the modernized AH-1W in 1986. To date, some 1,270 examples have been produced and the type stocks the inventories of the United States (Marines), the Iranian Army, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. The AH-1W is being superseded by the newer AH-1Z "Viper" standard.
Outwardly, the SuperCobra family retains much of the external appearance of the original Cobra design including its two-person, stepped cockpit creating a slim profile when viewed from the front. The powered, chin-mounted turret has also been carried over as had the Cobra's fixed, skid landing equipment. The pilot is seated in the rear, elevated cockpit with the weapon's officer in the front cockpit (flight and weapons controls are doubled). The engine pairing drives a two-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor (the latter affixed to the starboard side of the vertical tail fin. Like the Cobra, the SuperCobra can undertake a variety of battlefield roles that go beyond its base anti-armor capabilities. It can be used in close support of friendly forces, support special forces operations and provide security for convoys. Armed reconnaissance allows the aircraft to both track and engage unsuspecting foes at range through cannon fire, rockets and missiles.
The SuperCobra is outfitted with a 20mm M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon fitted to a powered M97 turret assembly under the nose as standard. This system is afforded 750 rounds of 20mm projectiles. The SuperCobra is also cleared to fire 2.75" (70mm) Mk 40 or Hydra 70 series rockets from multiple-shot pods. It can replace these with the larger 5" (127mm) "Zuni" series rockets fired from four-shot LAU-10D/A series launcher systems. Anti-armor sorties are managed by TOW missile launchers (four-shot launchers) and AGM-114 "Hellfire" anti-tank missiles (M272 launchers). MIssiles are limited to the outboard underwing hardpoint. To counter low-flying aerial threats, the platform can also field the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missile at each wingtip. External fuel tanks can also be fitted to help improved operational ranges.
The SuperCobra holds origins in the related twin-engine variants beginning with the AH-1J "SeaCobra" and its export derivative, the AH-1J "International". Then came the AH-1T "Improved SeaCobra" with lengthened tail boom and modernized powerplant/transmission systems. The AH-1W SuperCobra (nicknamed "Whiskey") features day/night fighting capabilities as well as more advanced weapons delivery systems. The AH-1(4B)W "Viper" ("Four-Bladed Whiskey") is an updated version with a four-bladed composite main rotor assembly. The AH-1Z "Viper" ("Zulu Cobra") is a SuperCobra overhaul with four-bladed main rotor blade and the advanced Night Targeting System (NTS) installed.
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The AH-1J SeaCobra was fitted with a single Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400 series turboshaft engine (PT6T-3 "Twin Pac") of 1,800 shaft horsepower driving a two-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor. This provided the mount a top speed of 220 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 175 miles per hour, a range of 360miles and a service ceiling of 10,500 feet. Rate-of-climb was listed at 1,090 feet per minute.
The newer AH-1W SuperCobra sported 2 x General Electric T700-401 turboshaft engines for an output of 1,690 shaft horsepower each. This arrangement also drove a two-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor. Straight line performance remained the same though range was increased to 365 miles, the service ceiling raised to 12,200 feet and rate-of-climb increased to 1,620 feet per minute.
The Model 309 "King Cobra" was a development based on previous AH-1 offerings intended for all-weather operation. Two prototypes were eventually produced, each with differing engines. The "CobraVenom" was a SuperCobra offering proposed to the British Army. Similarly, Romania was showcased the AH-1RO development and the AH-1Z "King Cobra" was destined for Turkey (existing AH-1 users) to fulfill its ATAK attack helicopter program requirement.
Iran procured a stock of AH-1 SuperCobras while the United States and Iran held a political relationship leading up to the fall of the Shah in 1979. These were then upgraded under the Panha 2091 designation and eventually evolved into the modern Iranian Army IAIO "Toufan" series which more or less appears as a SuperCobra though internally outfitted with Iranian avionics and weaponry.
The primary American operator of the AH-1 SuperCobra is the United States Marine Corps. The aircraft has been used by groups HMLA-167, HMLA-169, HMLA-269, HMLA-367, HMLA-369, HMLA-467, HMLA-469, HMLA-773 and HMLAT-303.
October 2020 - The United States Marine Corps has retired its last AH-1W Super Cobra example.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra Attack Helicopter.
2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines developing 1,723 shaft horsepower while driving two-blade main and two-blade tail rotors. Propulsion
173 mph 278 kph | 150 kts Max Speed
112 mph 180 kph | 97 kts Cruise Speed
13,999 ft 4,267 m | 3 miles Service Ceiling
365 miles 587 km | 317 nm Operational Range
800 ft/min 244 m/min Rate-of-Climb
City-to-City Ranges Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Structure The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra Attack Helicopter.
2 (MANNED) Crew
45.5 ft 13.87 m O/A Length
47.9 ft (14.60 m) O/A Width
14.6 ft (4.44 m) O/A Height
10,919 lb (4,953 kg) Empty Weight
14,749 lb (6,690 kg) MTOW
Design Balance The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.
RANGE
ALT
SPEED
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra Attack Helicopter provided across 6 hardpoints.
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm 3-barreled Gatling gun in powered chin turret.
OPTIONAL:
8 x Hughes TOW anti-tank missiles (quad launcher on outboard wing station).
8 x AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armor missiles (quad launcher on outboard wing station).
2 x AIM-9L short-range air-to-air missiles
2 x AGM-122A Sidearm air-to-surface anti-radiation missiles.
2 x 2.75in 7-Shot Munition Dispensing/HE Rocket Pods
2 x 2.75in 19-Shot Munition Dispensing/HE Rocket Pods
2 x 7.62mm Machine Gun pods
Also support for Fuel Air Explosive and Conventional Drop Bombs as required as well as external fuel tanks for improved range.
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:
Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra family line.
AH-1J "SeaCobra" - Base Twin Engine Model
AH-1J "International" - SeaCobra Export Variant
AH-1T "Improved SeaCobra" - Improved SeaCobra; lengthened fuselage and tail; upgraded gearbox; upgraded powerplants.
AH-1W "SuperCobra" / "Whiskey Cobra" - Improved engines and weapons suite; day/night operation capability.
AH-1Z "Viper" / "Zulu Cobra" - 4-Bladed Main Rotor; implementation of Night Targeting System (NTS).
AH-1RO "Dracula" - Proposed Romanian Model
AH-1RO "Dracula" - Proposed Romanian Export Model
AH-1Z "King Cobra" - Proposed AH-1Z Export Model for Turkey; never produced.
Model 309 "King Cobra" - Developmental Twin-Engine Cobra fitting 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400 turboshaft engines.
"CobraVenom" - Proposed British Model
Panha 2091 "Toufan" - Upgraded Iranian Cobras based on the AH-1J "International" model; indigenous Iranian canopy; revised instrument panels; FLIR installation.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.
Total Production: 1,271 Units Contractor(s): Bell Helicopter Textron - USA
[ South Korea; Taiwan; Turkey; United States ]
Relative Max Speed
Hi: 200mph
Lo: 100mph
Aircraft Max Listed Speed (173mph).
Graph Average of 150 MPH.
Era Crossover
Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)
Max Alt Visualization
Production Comparison
1271
36183
44000
Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.
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