N
early 50 years have passed since
the US Marine Corps began
operations with 38 single-engine
AH-1G Cobras, borrowed from the
US Army in April 1969. Over time, several
variants of Bell’s attack helicopter have been
used and, today, the Marines eld their fth
major version of the attack chopper, alongside
the latest variant of the ubiquitous Huey utility
helicopter.
Marine observation squadron VMO-1
received the rst of 69 AH-1J Sea Cobras,
designed speci cally to meet the needs of the
sea service, in September 1970. First own
on October 14, 1968 the AH-1J was powered
by two 1,800shp (1,342kW) Pratt & Whitney
Canada PT6T-3 (T400-CP-400) Twin-Pac
engines (the same powerplant as the Corps’
UH-1N utility helicopter). The AH-1J was the
rst variant of the type to have two engines
and also featured upgraded avionics, a rotor
brake and a turreted three-barrel M197 20mm
cannon.
The AH-1T Sea Cobra that followed
was powered by the 1,970shp (1,469kW)
PT6T-6 (T400-WV-402), and equipped with
an uprated transmission and improved rotor
system developed for Bell’s model 214A. It
also had a longer forward fuselage and
redesigned tail boom.
Known as the ‘Tango’, it rst ew in
May 1976, and deliveries to Marine attack
helicopter squadron HMA-269 began in
December 1978. The M65 TOW Missile
System (TMS) was factory-installed from the
34th AH-1T and retro tted to earlier AH-1Ts.
The tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-
guided BGM-71 missile provided the AH-1Ta precision engagement capability against
armoured vehicles and other targets for the
rst time.
The nal production AH-1T was modi ed
with two 1,690shp (1,260kW) General Electric
T700-GE-401 engines and an uprated
transmission that increased power by 65%
over the Twin-Pac. Initially known as the AH-
1T+, rst ight was at Bell’s Arlington, Texas,
facility, on November 16, 1983. A proof-of-
concept demonstrator had own in April 1980.
Purchases began in 1985 and deliveries
of the newly designated AH-1W began on
March 27, 1986. Known as the Super Cobra,
it was also equipped with a head-up display,
upgraded communications equipment and
night-vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit.
There were new systems: GPS/INS, AN/
APR-39 radar detection, AN/APR-44 warning
equipment, AN/ALQ-144 infrared jammer
and AN/ALE-39 countermeasures dispenser.
Additionally, the AGM-114 Hell re, AIM-9
Sidewinder and AIM-122 Sidearm missiles
were added to its armament.
An autonomous Hell re missile capabilityand the ability to detect, track and engage
targets under day, night and adverse weather
conditions, was added by incorporating the
Taman/Kollsman AN/ASQ-211 Night Targeting
System (NTS). It added FLIR and CCTV
sensors, a laser designator and ranging
system (LDRS) and an automatic target
tracking capability.
The rst NTS-equipped AH-1W arrived
at MCAS Camp Pendleton, California, in
July 1994. Later updates installed the AN/
AAR-47 missile warning system (MWS),
AN/AVR-2 laser warning and AN/ALE-47
countermeasures dispenser.
More recently, the night targeting system
upgrade (NTSU) provided a third-generation
targeting FLIR with laser designator/
range nder, colour TV camera and the
Tactical Video Data Link (TVDL). Weapons
improvements added 2.75in (70mm)
advanced precision kill weapon system
(APKWS), laser-guided rockets, a linkless
20mm ammunition feed system and a helmet
display and tracker system (HDTS).
Between 1986 and 1998, the USMC
received 215 AH-1Ws, including 44 that
were remanufactured from the earlier AH-1T
con guration. The latest Marine Aviation Plan
shows the Super Cobra will remain in service
until 2021.VIPER DEVELOPMENT
A four-blade rotor mechanism for the Super
Cobra was rst proposed in 1984, and a
modi ed AH-1W ew with Bell’s all-composite
Model 680 bearingless/hingeless rotor for the
rst time on January 24, 1989. A subsequent
ight test programme con rmed a signi cantBELL AH-1Z VIPER
STRIKING WITH FORCE
Tom Kaminski tracks the development of the Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.
22 Aviation News incorporating Jets February 2018Armed with live AGM-114 Hell re and AIM-
9L Sidewinder missiles and an auxiliary
fuel tank under its starboard stub wing,
an AH-1Z assigned to Marine medium
tiltrotor squadron VMM-166 patrols above
the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer
(LHD 4) near the Straits of Hormuz in July- A detachment of Vipers from HMLA-
267 was linked to VMM-166, part of the 13th
Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat
element. The MEU was deployed aboard the
ships of the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready
Group in support of Operation Inherent
Resolve. US Navy/MC3 Craig Z Rodarte
22-26_ah1zDC.mfDC.mf.indd 22 05/01/2018 14:01