Cobra Helicopter AH-1F SQD Transferred to Pakistan

[All-Green]

yeah it seems to me another lolly pop from uncle SAM.
seemilitarize of world are going forward while PA is BACKWARD.

Ask the TTP how much of a lolly pop the Cobras have been for them...

When somebody is helping you, it should be accepted without such negative thoughts.
We are not going from Apaches to Cobras so there is no backward step...we had few operational Cobras and have received valuable assistance from USA in undertaking the complex missions in FATA.
Upgrades like C-NITE have made adverse condition operations possible. C-NITE enables missile guidance through smoke, dust and sand; it also provides electro-optical countermeasure capability.

The US is going to help upgrade additional Pakistani AH-1S Cobras to AH-1F standard.
A gunship is not something cheap or low tech and the assistance is most welcome news for us.

 

[araz]

People seem to not take into account that any new platform even the AHI W will need retraining of the aviation pilots and that could take upto a Yr. So it is easy to say lets get this or that, but to develop infrastructure, repair facilities ,training for new platforms takes time. Even transition from Bl15 to Bl52 has meant additional training for our pilots.Members have got to take this factor into account.
Araz

 

[KeenGuy]

yeah it seems to me another lolly pop from uncle SAM.
seemilitarize of world are going forward while PA is BACKWARD.

bay-waqoof we would have crappy military it were not for U.S.A.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Fatman kindly telme what about cost of 40 AH 1Z ? what is the actual cost of one single AH1Z ?

In late 90s, turkey had plans for 145 AH-1Z helos at a total price of the contract to be 4Billion US$, making it about 28Million per helo.

Then news came in early 2000s, that initial contract would be for about 50 helos, at total contract of 1.5Billion, making it about 30Million per plane.

And if it is ordered now, rough estimate would be in between 35-40 million per helicopter.

So if we are getting it through the US funded program, well and good, and if we have to pay it from our own pockets, then better we get the T-129s or Chinese WZ-10s.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Just to add AH-1Z are totally new helicopter if you look at its upgrade details and many technologies are totally new in them, with everything changed. Its much better then they old Cobras, and these are the new attack platforms of the US marines, who did not select the AH-64D Apache helicopter.

So those who are trying to degrade this helicopter system, should better read what they are talking about, as without knowing about the system, the make themselves look bad.

 

[araz]

bay-waqoof we would have crappy military it were not for U.S.A.

Please mind your language.This forum does not allow or tolerate a loose tongue.
Regards
Araz

 

[Hayreddin]

United States on Tuesday handed over a fleet of modern AH-1 Cobra helicopters to Pakistan, which has been inducted in the Army Aviation, Geo news reported on Tuesday. A squadron consists of 14 to 16 helicopters. The channel quoted its sources as saying that such helicopters are being being used by the Jordanian Armed Forces. The US will also fund $75 million to upgrade the helicopters currently being used by the Pakistan Armed Forces. Cobra helicopters were used in operation Rahe Nijat and the new additions will provide much-needed help and firepower to the army, especially in the upcoming operation in Orakzai Agency. Cobra helicopters can fly at an altitude of 11,400 feet and can be used effectively for night-time operations. Each Cobra helicopter is equipped with two 7.62 mm multi-barrel guns, two 40 mm guns and grenade launchers, while 70 mm rockets can be attached to it.
US delivers Pakistan Cobra choppers

 

[Hayreddin]

 

[Mercenary]

I am confused.

Are we getting 25 total Cobras?

13 to be cannibalized for Spare Parts and the other 12 to be inducted in our fleet?

 

[Rank]

This one is AH1Z. Any availablity of this one for Pakistan before 2015 ??

Kindly upload AH1F (which we will get). I am still confused about word "Modern" with AH1F

Thanks,

 

[TaimiKhan]

This one is AH1Z. Any availablity of this one for Pakistan before 2015 ??

Kindly upload AH1F (which we will get). I am still confused about word "Modern" with AH1F

Thanks,

These would be the AH-1F that we would be getting.


AH-1F given to Pakistan last time in 2007

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

AH-1F
The AH-1F incorporates all Step 1 and 2 upgrades to the AH-1S as well an M143 Air Data Subsystem (ADS), a laser rangefinder and tracker, an infrared jammer mounted above the engine exhaust, and an infrared suppressing engine exhaust system. The AH-1F is also referred to as the "Modernized AH-1S", "AH-1S Modernized Cobra", or "AH-1S(MC)" prior to 1988.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-1_Cobra

 

[IceCold]

So those who are trying to degrade this helicopter system, should better read what they are talking about, as without knowing about the system, the make themselves look bad.

What about the constant hours of work required to keep the machine flying. Has the flying hours being improved in the latter models?
When the operation in Bajur was launched, i remembered reading somewhere that cobra could not fly straight and had to make a stop over, and required maintenance before could fly to take over the mission.

 

[TaimiKhan]

What about the constant hours of work required to keep the machine flying. Has the flying hours being improved in the latter models?
When the operation in Bajur was launched, i remembered reading somewhere that cobra could not fly straight and had to make a stop over, and required maintenance before could fly to take over the mission.

Well, am not sure about the stopping thing, but as far i know, they used to fly from Tarbela and went straight to SW, do their mission, get refueled and be back to Tarbela for their maintenance and other stuff.

Bajaur is much closer to Tarbela directly if you see it on the map, so they may be stopping for refueling or getting weapons, but not sure about the maintenance thing.

See the problem was that Swat, Bajaur and SW are all high altitude operational areas, and Cobras were made for low area anti tank warfare in mind, so the Cobras engine is not powerful enough to go to these heights with full weapon compliment, so what they would do is get rearmed again and again at the forwards army bases and then go on for their missions.

And as for AH-1Z, they have brand new engines, and nearly major parts have been removed with newer ones. Its kind of a complete makeover with full engine and body life. And they would be perfect for such high altitude areas as they have twin more powerful engines and can go to such heights with full weapon load.

So the AH-1Z is totally new helicopter and a very deadly one too.

AH-1Z are the current and future workhorse of the US marines, and by looking at their war record, i don;t think they will go for outdated or much to maintain platforms.

 

[fatman17]

^trying to verify the news abt the transfer of these helos from sources other than geo news/daily times but so far no luck!