AH-1Z Viper, 1000 Hellfire II Missiles approved for sale to Pakistan.

[Víðarr]

The US ARMY names it's helicopters after various Native American Indian Tribes.

The US NAVY names it's ships as listed:

Air Craft Carriers- US Presidents/ Admiral/ 1 A/C is required to be Enterprise
Battleships (Phased out)- States
Cruisers- Distinguished Americans, Famous battles
Destroyers- US Navy/ Marine Officers/ Enlisted
Frigates- US Navy/ Marine Officers/ Enlisted
Submarines- Fish, US Presidents, US Navy Admirals, US Politicians, Cities, States

@SvenSvensonov

This is true, however, in the case of the "Zulu" Cobra this is a phonetic designation rather than a name relating to Native American tribes - especially since the name of the helicopter is cobra and not a Native Name like Sioux or Lakota.

Take the "Whiskey" cobra as an example, there is no Native American tribe called Whiskey, but Whiskey is part of the Phonetic Alphabet, which the US uses to demarcate different blocks. the AH-1Z being the most recent, and probably the last of the AH-1 line for the US military, hence it's "Zulu" designation.

It's the same phenomenon seen in this article with the mention of the F-15 "charlie"

F-15 fighters have been flown since the 1970s, with the single-seat “Charlie” version that crashed Wednesday first appearing in the latter half of the decade, Air Force officials say.

After crash in Virginia, a brief history of F-15 fighter jet mishaps - The Washington Post

- Who is Zulu man ??
You asked me so i Google it and you want to know the result ??

1) A member of a South African people traditionally living mainly in KwaZulu-Natal province.
2) A code word representing the letter Z, used in radio communication.
3) relating to the Zulus or their language.

See the above explanation to answer your question.

 

[Viking 63]

Pakistan army and Air force both are worse than a Donkey, even a Donkey will learn his lesson but not our beloved forces, again back to the USA after getting humiliated again and again , really a bunch of BAGAHARATS !!!

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

This is true, however, in the case of the "Zulu" Cobra this is a phonetic designation rather than a name relating to Native American tribes - especially since the name of the helicopter is cobra and not a Native Name like Sioux or Lakota.

I think the Cobras are just considered enhanced Bell UH-1 Iroquois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SQ8]

If you didn't see the reason being a complete naive, it didn't mean its not their 'all open'....in fact you lacks a true eye instead.

In the words of Zardari, "Ye aap ka khayal hai".

Guys ! Just found this comment in DAWN, regarding sale of these helis to PA.

What do you think ?

JEFFT - about an hour ago:
"US hypocracy par excellence!! It's a self-serving attempt by offering almost obsolete Vipers to Pakistan when for well over a decade it has been asking for attack helicopters to replace its 60s vintage Cobras. The offer is being made to wean away Pakistan at a moment when it's actually evaluating the just received three Z-10 gunships from China and is negotiating with Russia for procurement of 20 Mi-35 attack helicopters".

The comment is made by someone who like many Pakistanis is an ignorant self righteous buffoon. So no surprise.

 

[Víðarr]

I think the Cobras are just considered enhanced Bell UH-1 Iroquois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The original AH-1, yes, but the SuperCobra and its variants including the AH-1Z Viper don't share the commonality with the UH-1, from whom the original Cobra took its engine, transmission and rotor system

The original was designed from the UH-1
Bell AH-1 Cobra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The modern SuperCobra is a completely different aircraft though with no commonality between it and the UH-1.
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[mingle]

It is known that Turkey and Pakistan agreed on many points regarding the sale of T-129 Atak helicopters. According to frame agreement(What I understood), TAI would allow Pakistan to produce some parts of body along with general assembly line of Atak. The parts manufactured by Pakistan, will be ordered by TAI, When A new export deal is signed (For example Bahrain). With this way, Pakistan would have been considered as international Atak producer along with TAI.

Recent days, PM didn't give a country name but mentioned as our so called ally not allow engine export to a country When We agreed to make a deal. Most probably, He was talking about Atak and Pakistan.

I agree with it must be pakistan Americans R very clever businessmen .after 9/11 when things went good with US pak opted 26 Belgian F16s which were stored by them and they were willing to but it state department said No and then they offer pak new F16 s .thats the trick they use they stoped Turks helicopter reason they want to sell pak theior Cobras my take number will go up to 50 down the road is nothing but bussiness .pak was looking Gripen and american said no to engine export reason who gonna buy our F16 .now 1 billion will go bell and locked they Know they will fetch further 2 billions easily more with further orders .house will approve it I know no issue republicans R more pakistan friendly than democrats now all on same boat .Sadly it's all abut saving jobs

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Potential AH-1Z sale to Pakistan announced as Islamabad tests Chinese competitor

Pakistan is reported to have received three WZ-10 attack helicopters from China. Source: Via Top81 website

The US Defense Security Co-operation Agency's (DSCA's) 6 April announcement of the potential sale of 15 Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the Pakistan Army follows reports that the country is testing at least three Chinese CHAIG WZ-10 attack helicopters.

The DSCA notification described the AH-1Z, which is currently only in US Marine Corps service, as providing "Pakistan with a precision-strike, enhanced-survivability aircraft that it can operate at high altitudes. By acquiring this capability, Pakistan will enhance its ability to conduct operations in North Waziristan Agency [NWA], the Federally Administered Tribal Areas [FATA], and other remote and mountainous areas in all-weather, day-and-night environments".

The WZ-10s reportedly arrived at the Pakistan Army's Qasim Army Aviation base near Rawalpindi in late 2014. A senior Pakistani government official told IHS

Jane'son 8 April that "the Chinese helicopters are being used in anti-terror operations" without giving further information on the types of operations where they have been used. He added that Pakistan and China "are looking at further collaboration in helicopters" without revealing further details.

A DSCA notification released on 7 April outlined the potential sale of 15 Bell AH-1Zs to Islamabad. (US Marine Corps)​

The Pakistan Army received 20 AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters from the US from 1984 that were upgraded to AH-1F standard and equipped with C-NITE (Cobra Night Imaging Thermal Equipment) and TOW missile day/night capability. Twelve ex-US Army AH-1Fs were delivered in 2006-07, but these do not feature C-NITE and are limited to daylight operations.

Meanwhile, IHS Jane's reported in November 2014 that Pakistan and Russia were closing in on discussions for Moscow's possible sale of a batch of Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopters. In December 2014, minister for defence production Rana Tanvir Hussain said that Pakistan was also in discussions with Russia for the possible sale of an unspecified number of Mi-28NE 'Havoc' attack helicopters.

The Pakistani official who spoke to IHS Jane's on 8 April said discussions with Russia for the purchase of Mi-35 and Mi-28 helicopters "are now on hold but not cancelled" without elaborating further.

Potential AH-1Z sale to Pakistan announced as Islamabad tests Chinese competitor - IHS Jane's 360​

 

[airmarshal]

If I look at AH-1Z, T-129 and WZ-10, WZ-10 looks like a toy and does not seem to mean business. Thats just looks, not capability.

 

[Wolf]

If there is a string attached to the sale of super cobras that Pakistan will not buy chinese or russian helis and americans dont give assurance of unhindered supply of spares then we should not go for it. Otherwise ok.

 

[razgriz19]

Potential AH-1Z sale to Pakistan announced as Islamabad tests Chinese competitor

Pakistan is reported to have received three WZ-10 attack helicopters from China. Source: Via Top81 website

The US Defense Security Co-operation Agency's (DSCA's) 6 April announcement of the potential sale of 15 Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the Pakistan Army follows reports that the country is testing at least three Chinese CHAIG WZ-10 attack helicopters.

The DSCA notification described the AH-1Z, which is currently only in US Marine Corps service, as providing "Pakistan with a precision-strike, enhanced-survivability aircraft that it can operate at high altitudes. By acquiring this capability, Pakistan will enhance its ability to conduct operations in North Waziristan Agency [NWA], the Federally Administered Tribal Areas [FATA], and other remote and mountainous areas in all-weather, day-and-night environments".

The WZ-10s reportedly arrived at the Pakistan Army's Qasim Army Aviation base near Rawalpindi in late 2014. A senior Pakistani government official told IHS

Jane'son 8 April that "the Chinese helicopters are being used in anti-terror operations" without giving further information on the types of operations where they have been used. He added that Pakistan and China "are looking at further collaboration in helicopters" without revealing further details.
​

A DSCA notification released on 7 April outlined the potential sale of 15 Bell AH-1Zs to Islamabad. (US Marine Corps)​

The Pakistan Army received 20 AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters from the US from 1984 that were upgraded to AH-1F standard and equipped with C-NITE (Cobra Night Imaging Thermal Equipment) and TOW missile day/night capability. Twelve ex-US Army AH-1Fs were delivered in 2006-07, but these do not feature C-NITE and are limited to daylight operations.

Meanwhile, IHS Jane's reported in November 2014 that Pakistan and Russia were closing in on discussions for Moscow's possible sale of a batch of Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopters. In December 2014, minister for defence production Rana Tanvir Hussain said that Pakistan was also in discussions with Russia for the possible sale of an unspecified number of Mi-28NE 'Havoc' attack helicopters.

The Pakistani official who spoke to IHS Jane's on 8 April said discussions with Russia for the purchase of Mi-35 and Mi-28 helicopters "are now on hold but not cancelled" without elaborating further.

Potential AH-1Z sale to Pakistan announced as Islamabad tests Chinese competitor - IHS Jane's 360​

This is exactly why I don't trust any news unless I actually see a picture or get an official confirmation from both sides.
Mi-35 purchase is on hold, and everyone was claiming they're on their way...

 

[black-hawk_101]

I think the deal from USA side might turn towards AH-1 Cobras with upgrades and also a bigger spare shipment too from US side to support the existing fleet.

Moreover, PAA should be allowed to buy AH-1 Cobras spares from Spain. Also, they should be allowed to buy from Philippines, Bahrain, Turkey and Jordan to complement and increase the fleet. This might allow them to have a total of 140+ AH-1 Cobras. So they may deploy 100 towards Indian border and 40 towards Pak-IRAN and Pak-AFGHAN border.

 

[Kompromat]

I doubt WZ-10 has anything to do with AH-1Z sale. However If i was to pick, i would go for WZ-10 when it gets WZ-16 Turboshaft engines giving it almost equal power to the AH-64D Apaches. There is also a possibility of getting transfer of technology from China for helicopter manufacturing as well as for AKD-10 Missiles which we can later use in larger UCAVs as well. It will give us much independence in operating and maintaining the platform while AH-1Z will make us beg the US every single time.

 

[Saifullah Sani]

I doubt WZ-10 has anything to do with AH-1Z sale. However If i was to pick, i would go for WZ-10 when it gets WZ-16 Turboshaft engines giving it almost equal power to the AH-64D Apaches. There is also a possibility of getting transfer of technology from China for helicopter manufacturing as well as for AKD-10 Missiles which we can later use in larger UCAVs as well. It will give us much independence in operating and maintaining the platform while AH-1Z will make us beg the US every single time.

Jane'son 8 April that "the Chinese helicopters are being used in anti-terror operations" without giving further information on the types of operations where they have been used. He added that Pakistan and China "are looking at further collaboration in helicopters" without revealing further details.

 

[Sulman Badshah]

How are they obsolete? They were just introduced to the USMC in 2010 with IAS(Mission computers, automatic flight control), HMDs, and a 3rd generation FLIR system.

poor journalism i guess .. vipers are newest bird offer by US

 

[Donatello]

I doubt WZ-10 has anything to do with AH-1Z sale. However If i was to pick, i would go for WZ-10 when it gets WZ-16 Turboshaft engines giving it almost equal power to the AH-64D Apaches. There is also a possibility of getting transfer of technology from China for helicopter manufacturing as well as for AKD-10 Missiles which we can later use in larger UCAVs as well. It will give us much independence in operating and maintaining the platform while AH-1Z will make us beg the US every single time.

Let's wait and see. A year or two ago, no one could've seen the AH-1Z coming with 1000 hellfires.......or WZ10 or Russians opening up. So i guess, we'll have to chug along and not speculate. Pakistan is as important as ever in the rapidly changing environment of the Middle-east, south Asia, i hope our Daft leaders can actually make a good use of the situation.

Does anyone know if this billion dollar deal is finance by Pakistan or US FMF?