AH-1W SuperCobra/AH-1Z Viper
The Marine Corps’ transition from
the AH-1W to the more capable
AH-1Z is now more than half-way
complete. With the exception of
a recently re-activated reserve
squadron, operation of the ‘Whiskey’
has ended on the US west coast.
Marine light attack helicopter
squadron HMLA-367 carried out its
nal Super Cobra ight on March 18,- Stationed at MCAS Kaneohe
Bay, Hawaii, the squadron is the only
light attack helicopter squadron
within the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
(MAW). The unit, which relocated
from MCAS Camp Pendleton,
California, in 2012, began its
transition to the AH-1Z in December - Operations at Camp
Pendleton were closed out when
the last AH-1W assigned to marine
aircraft group MAG-39’s marine light
attack helicopter training squadron
HMLAT-303 departed on February - HMLAT-303 had trained Super
Cobra aircrews since 1982 and
now concentrates on providing
replacement, refresher and
conversion training for the AH-1Z
Viper as well as the UH-1Y Venom.
MAG-29 at MCAS New River, North
Carolina, will begin its conversion
to the Viper in FY 2019 when the
rst of its two squadrons starts to
transition. This will be completed in
late FY 2020. The AH-1Z will achieve
FOC at the end of FY 2021 when the
last AH-1Ws assigned to the reserve
squadrons are retired.
Since obtaining the rst of 38
single-engine AH-1G Cobra attack
helicopters on loan from the
US Army in 1968, the corps has
operated ve major versions of
the attack helicopter. The AH-1W
was the rst variant to feature
the AGM-114 Hell re and AIM-9
Sidewinder missiles in its armament.
Development of the AH-1Z began
under the H-1 upgrades program
and Bell Helicopter produced three
AH-1Z prototypes by modifying
AH-1Ws. The new variant rst ew
on December 8, 2000 and low-rate
initial production began in October- Although plans initially called
for remanufacturing up to 180
AH-1Ws to AH-1Z con guration,
in 2008 the decision was made to
include 58 new-build aircraft and
reduce the number of AH-1Ws to
be remanufactured. Production
plans were changed again in
December 2011 when an all new-
build AH-1Z strategy was pursued;
just 37 helicopters were eventually
remanufactured. Ultimately the
USMC’s 189 AH-1Zs will include 152
new-build aircraft.
The AH-1Z has six weapons
on its stub wings that allow it to
carry AIM-9 air-to-air missiles,
2.75in (70mm) unguided and
laser guided Advanced Precision
Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II)
rockets in seven-shot LAU-68 or
19-shot LAU-61 pods or AGM-114
air-to-ground missiles and external
fuel tanks. A three-barrel M197
20mm cannon is mounted in a
turret under the nose and sensors
include the AN/AAQ-30 target sight
sensor (TSS) and the multi-sensor
electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) re
control system.
The Viper achieved IOC in 2011
and ve of the seven active-duty
squadrons have transitioned to
the AH-1Z. Each of the active-duty
squadrons and the FRS will operate
15 AH-1Zs alongside 12 UH-1Ys. The
two reserve squadrons, comprising
HMLA-773 and HMLA-775, will
respectively operate 15 AH-1Zs
and 12 UH-1Ys and 11 AH-1Z and
nine UH-1Ys.
In December 2017, 80 AH-1Z
models were in service and funding
for the last 25 examples was
requested in the FY 2019 budgetrequest. The AH-1W eet, which
still includes more than 70 aircraft,
has been kept relevant through the
installation of the night targeting
system upgrade (NTSU).
Flight-testing with the Joint Air-
to-Ground Missile (JAGM) began in
December 2017 and the AH-1Z is
expected to achieve IOC with the
Hell re replacement in FY 2019.
The missile will initially feature a
dual-mode semi-active laser (SAL)
and millimeter-wave (MMW) seeker.
It will later be equipped with an
imaging infra-red (IIR) mode.
Further upgrades will equip
the AH-1Z with the Block X AN/
ALQ-231(v)1 Intrepid Tiger II
electronic warfare pod and
upgraded AN/APR-39(D)V2
radar warning receiver as well as
navigation improvements.CHSCWP
Commander,
Helicopter Sea Combat Wing
Paci c
CMSW Commander, Maritime Support Wing
CNATRA Chief, Naval Aviation Training CommandCOTEF Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force
CPRG Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group
CPRW Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing
CUSFFC Commander, US Fleet Forces Command
CSFWL Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic
CSFWP Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Paci c
CTSW Commander, Tactical Support Wing
CVAQWP Commander, Electronic Attack Wing Paci c
CVW Carrier Air Wing
DC(A) Deputy Commandant for AviationABBREVIATIONS CONTINUED
Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
HMLA-167 ‘Warriors’
(see note 1)
MCAS New River,
North Carolina AH-1W MAG-29 TV
HMLA-169 ‘Vipers’ MCAS Camp Pendleton, California AH-1Z MAG-39 SN
HMLA-267 ‘Stingers’ MCAS Camp Pendleton, California AH-1Z MAG-39 UV
HMLA-269 ‘Gunrunners’
(see note 2)
MCAS New River,
North Carolina AH-1W MAG-29 HF
HMLAT-303 (FRS) ‘Atlas’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California AH-1Z MAG-39 QT
HMLA-367 ‘Scarface’ MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii AH-1Z MAG-24 VT
HMLA-369 ‘Gun ghters’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California AH-1Z MAG-39 SM
HMLA-469 ‘Vengeance’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California AH-1Z MAG-39 SE
HMLA-773(-) ‘Red Dog’
(see note 3)
JB McGuire-Dix-
Lakehurst, New Jersey AH-1W MAG-49 WG
HMLA-773 Det A
‘Nomads’
NAS JRB New Orleans,
Louisiana AH-1W MAG-49 MM
HMLA-775(-)
‘Coyotes’(see note 4)
MCAS Camp Pendleton,
California AH-1W MAG-41 WR
HX-21 ‘Blackjack’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland AH-1W/Z NAWCAD HX
VMX-1 MCAS Yuma, Arizona AH-1W/Z COTEF MV
1 HMLA-167 will begin transition to the AH-1Z in late FY 2018.
2 HMLA-269 will begin transition to the AH-1Z in FY 2019.
3 HMLA-773(-) relocated to JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey and integrated with Det B in 2016.
4 HMLA-775(-) was reactivated in October 2016.An AH-1Z Viper of
marine light attack
helicopter squadron
(HMLA) 469. USMC/
LCpl Clare J. McIntireUS NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AIR POWER^9386-99 Marine Tables C.indd 93 01/06/2018 14:05