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 The AH-1W is being superseded by the newer AH-1Z "Viper" standard.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 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.
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October 2020 - The United States Marine Corps has retired its last AH-1W Super Cobra example.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
Length
45.5 ft (13.87 m)
Width/Span
47.9 ft (14.60 m)
Height
14.6 ft (4.44 m)
Empty Wgt
10,919 lb (4,953 kg)
MTOW
14,749 lb (6,690 kg)
Wgt Diff
+3,829 lb (+1,737 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra production variant)
Installed:
2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines developing 1,723 shaft horsepower while driving two-blade main and two-blade tail rotors.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
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.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 6
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.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Low angle right side view of an incoming Marine Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper
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A pair of Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictopers on the hunt
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Front left side view of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper at rest; not chin turret armament and four-bladed main rotor
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Close-up detail view of the canopy on a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper
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A hovering Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper in the desert
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Side profile close-up detail view of the forward cockpit on a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper; the crewmember peers down the weapons scope
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Straight on profile view of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper in flight; note rocket pods and spent TOW missile racks
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Left side rear view of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper at rest; note engine exhausts
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Right side rear view of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper at rest; note engine exhausts
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A soldier loads the 7-shot rocket pod onto its launcher on the wingstub of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper
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A crew services their Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper; note 3-barreled Gatling cannon armament in chin turret
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Crewmembers service the main rotor assembly on a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper
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Rear left side view of a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper at rest; note engine exhaust ports
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A Bell AH-1 SuperCobra attack helictoper is armed and fueled for the next sortie; note Hellfire missiles and rocket pod armament
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South Korea; Taiwan; Turkey; United States
