Pakistan needs Attack Helicopters

[Mercenary]

Pakistan has a very severe lack of Attack Helicopters.

We only have 20 Obselete Cobra Gunships.

Those Gunships are the primary firepower that has been deployed against Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Balochi Terrorists. It has worked very well but the severe shortage of these Gunships prevent them from being deployed in a more forceful way.

In other words there are not enough attack helicopters to cover the entire rugged terrain and when our Army moves in, we suffer heavy losses.

Helicopter Gunships can saturate an entire area with heavy fire and then our forces can move in to do mop up operations.

Pakistan should ask USA for atleast 100 AH-64D Apache Gunships and Upgrade Kits for its aging fleet of Cobra Gunships.

Pakistan should stop concentrating solely on F-16 and spend money on other areas such as Attack Helicopters.

 

[vnomad]

Pakistan should ask USA for atleast 100 AH-64D Apache Gunships and Upgrade Kits for its aging fleet of Cobra Gunships.

Its the AH-64D Longbow not Apache. The AH-64A is the Apache.

The Longbow costs $15 million. This is the cost of just the platform and doesn't include infrastructure, spares, munitions etc etc. Its the most expensive attack helicopter on the market and the PAF cannot afford a 100 of these birds.

 

[Owais]

Its the AH-64D Longbow not Apache. The AH-64A is the Apache.

The AH-64D Longbow is a remanufactured and upgraded version of the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ah-64-fms.htm

The Longbow costs $15 million. This is the cost of just the platform and doesn't include infrastructure, spares, munitions etc etc. Its the most expensive attack helicopter on the market and the PAF cannot afford a 100 of these birds.

you are right. but we must get atleast 40 of these birds.
there was a reumour that pakistan is getting apache AH-64D from USA.

 

[Janbaz]

there was a reumour that pakistan is getting apache AH-64D from USA.

I heard it too. On wikipedia i think. Do not know the factual accuracy.

 

[vnomad]

The AH-64D Longbow is a remanufactured and upgraded version of the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ah-64-fms.htm

Hey. I knew that. It doesn't take a rocket scientists to figure out that the AH-64D and AH-64A are versions of the same platform/weapon system. All I was pointing out was that the tag was incorrect. :cool1:

 

[blain2]

Pakistan has a very severe lack of Attack Helicopters.

We only have 20 Obselete Cobra Gunships.

Those Gunships are the primary firepower that has been deployed against Taliban and Al-Qaeda and Balochi Terrorists. It has worked very well but the severe shortage of these Gunships prevent them from being deployed in a more forceful way.

In other words there are not enough attack helicopters to cover the entire rugged terrain and when our Army moves in, we suffer heavy losses.

Helicopter Gunships can saturate an entire area with heavy fire and then our forces can move in to do mop up operations.

Pakistan should ask USA for atleast 100 AH-64D Apache Gunships and Upgrade Kits for its aging fleet of Cobra Gunships.

Pakistan should stop concentrating solely on F-16 and spend money on other areas such as Attack Helicopters.

Before you bulk up on your attack helicopters, you have to make sure that you have adequate air cover so these expensive assets are not shot down by your adversary's combat aircraft. For Pakistan, the attack helicopters can only operate in a situation or make sense if we have an adequate denial capability in the air..so my own take is that instead of buying a $15 million attack helicopter (price of a JF-17), Pakistan should focus on getting more surplus Cobras and then upgrading them to Super Cobra configuration with Hellfire ATGM. This will allow money to be dieverted to the Airforce for more important acquisitions while providing the Army with a very good Anti-armor capability.

 

[falcone]

Roger that, Blain2! Without air superiority and close air support to deal with the SAM threat, attack helos are ripe targets for enemy fighters and enemy SAMs.

 

[Keysersoze]

Before you bulk up on your attack helicopters, you have to make sure that you have adequate air cover so these expensive assets are not shot down by your adversary's combat aircraft. For Pakistan, the attack helicopters can only operate in a situation or make sense if we have an adequate denial capability in the air..so my own take is that instead of buying a $15 million attack helicopter (price of a JF-17), Pakistan should focus on getting more surplus Cobras and then upgrading them to Super Cobra configuration with Hellfire ATGM. This will allow money to be dieverted to the Airforce for more important acquisitions while providing the Army with a very good Anti-armor capability.

I second the view regarding air cover........
However I think they should look at a non-American option as well. Rooivalk! (with mokapa ATGM)

 

[melb4aust]

Well its just not solely the attack helicopter we need, we also require heavy lift or transport helicopters, and should be the 1st priority, as we did lack em during the earth quake crisis.

 

[Keysersoze]

Well its just not solely the attack helicopter we need, we also require heavy lift or transport helicopters, and should be the 1st priority, as we did lack em during the earth quake crisis.

Well the SA330 puma is in service. Perhaps more of them?

 

[melb4aust]

Well the SA330 puma is in service. Perhaps more of them?

Yes, they are not enough in numbers in PA's inventory. Even the general sahib use the one and other big personalities, there is always going to be a shortage.

 

[Abs]

Pakistan has a very severe lack of Attack Helicopters.

We only have 20 Obselete Cobra Gunships.

we have 70 cobra gunships and they are far from being obselete, they serve pakistans purpose well.

in addition to these pakistan is also looking for another attack helicopter, possibly the rooivalk.

 

[Keysersoze]

we have 70 cobra gunships and they are far from being obselete, they serve pakistans purpose well.

in addition to these pakistan is also looking for another attack helicopter, possibly the rooivalk.

Where did you get that figure from?????

 

[vnomad]

Probably from wikipedia. It says the PA flies 50 and 20 more are on order.

 

[Neo]

we have 70 cobra gunships and they are far from being obselete, they serve pakistans purpose well.

in addition to these pakistan is also looking for another attack helicopter, possibly the rooivalk.

Abs,

I would like to see a reliable source to support your claim. As far as we know 40 Cobra's have been delivered to PA sofar.