Bell AH-1Z Super Cobra

(previously known as AH-1(4B)W)

Type (Muster)
Multi-role attack helicopter (Kampfhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bell Helicopter Textron
PO Box 482
Fort Worth, Texas 76101

USA

Phone: 001-817/280-8415
Fax: 001-817/280-8221

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 in stepped tandem seats, with identical instruments

Weapons (Bewaffnung): The AH-1Z is one of the most versatile attack helicopters of the world. Apart from the General Electric 20 mm canon in the nose (with 750 rounds), its armament options (on six external stores points) include:

2 - 6 x AIM-9 Sidewinder or Sidearm or Stinger
8 - 16 x AGM-114A/B/C/F/K Hellfire
4 x unguided 70 mm rocket pods (7 or 19 shots each)
Mk.77 fire bombs
Mk.76 practice bombs, Mk.106 practice bombs, BDU-33D/B practice bombs
CBU-55 fire bombs
fuel tanks (77 and 100 gal)

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshafts
Maximum power (max. Leistung): 2 x 1285 kW (1723 shp) for 2,5 minutes, 1690 shp for 30 minutes and 1437 shp max. continuous
Transmission limit (Getriebelimit): 1955 kW (2625 shp)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length, rotors turning (Länge über drehende Rotoren): 17,73 m
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 13,87 m
Width over skids (Breite über Landekufen): 2,13 m
Wingspan (Flügelspannweite): 4,39 m
Height (Höhe): 3,78 m to the rotor head
Main rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 14,63 m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 2,97 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 5580 kg
Max. useful load (max. Zuladung): 2812 kg
Internal fuel (Kraftstoff): 1565 litres
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 8391 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Speed limit (Vne): 411 km/h (222 kts)
Max. speed (max.Geschwindigkeit): 298 km/h (161 kts)
Cruise speed (Marschgeschwindigkeit): 265 km/h (143 kts)
Mission radius (Einsatzradius):
- 234 km with 1134 kg of payload
- 334 km with 291 l auxiliary fuel tank
Max. range (max. Reichweite): 705 km (close air support mission with 8 Hellfire, 14 rockets, 650 rounds of ammunition at 3000 ft at 91,5 deg F)
Max. endurance (Einsatzdauer): 3,7 h
g-loads (g-Belastung): + 2,6 / - 0,5 g

Cost (Kosten)
Unit conversion cost was put at 11,5 million US-Dollars at the time of roll-out in November 2000.
The fixed-fee-plus contract covering development and conversion of three AH-1Ws into prototypes plus testing through September 2003 was valued at 310 million US-Dollars in November 1996.

Customers (Kunden)

The US Marine Corps plans to upgrade 180 of its currently remaining 199 AH-1W gunships to the new standard.
Turkey has selected the KingCobra version of the AH-1Z for its ATAK programme in August 2000. Negotiations centre on a first tranche of 50 helicopters, with a total requirement of 145 in the long term.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Boeing AH-64 Apache
Eurocopter Tiger

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The AH-1Z is the latest in a long series of Cobra attack helicopters. It is based on the AH-1Ws currently serving with the US Marine Corps, adressing deficiencies in night vision and crew workload. Also, flight and sensor performance is significantly improved, and maintenance simplified. It is expected that the AH-1Z will safe 3 billion US-Dollars in life cycle costs.
Actually, existing AH-1W airframes will be totally rebuilt at Bell to the new AH-1Z standard, which is distinguished by

a four bladed main rotor with composite flexbeam hub (bearingless design using two identical stacked composite yokes, visco-elastic dampers, elastomeric shear restraints, pitch horns, pitch change adapters, composite cuffs etc.). The design is tolerant to 23 mm shots. It also allows - 0.5 g/+ 2.6 g maneuvring. Service life is to be 10000 hrs.
four-bladed pusher tail rotor
modified rotor pylon and drive system, with a 10000 hr service life and 5000 hr TBO
composite wing with fuel cell and more span, enabling two additional weapons stations
an advanced target sight system built by Lockheed Martin (imager by Wescam and Sniper FLIR)
a fully modernized cockpit with two large colour CRTs on both stations as well as a helmet mounted sight from BAE Systems.
new, integrated avionics suite with two redundant Weapons/Mission compters, including GPS, digital map system and dual 1553B databus. Integration is managed by Litton
self protection system with radar, laser and infrared missile warners, engine IR suppression, an IR jammer and countermeasures dispenser
upgraded landing gear

The AH-1Z programme runs in parallel to the UH-1Y, with the aim of achieving at least 85 per cent commonality of major maintenance-intensive components. This includes rotors, drive train and tailboom as well as CRTs, EW and avionics components or the APU.

History (Geschichte)
For many years, Bell was conducting studies on AH-1 upgrades, which led to an AH-1Z (then referred to as AH-1W(4BW)) engineering and manufacturing development contract in November 1996, valued at 310 million US-Dollars (cost-plus-fixed-fee). The critical design review was completed in 1998. Litton got the systems integration contract in Augsut 1998.
Bell had received four AH-1W Super Cobra airframes from the Marines and began reassembling the first in April 1999. At that time, 85 per cent of drawings had been released and first flight was predicted for October 2000.
In late 1999, drop tests with the new landing gear were performed, demonstrating 12 ft/sec sink rate survivability. Early in 2000, Bell completed the basic bench tests of the new gearbox.
Turkey announced that the AH-1Z KingCobra had won its ATAK helicopter competition on 21 July 2000. At first, 50 helicopters are sought, at a price of about 1,5 billion US-Dollars. Long-term, 145 machines are needed. Tusas Aerospace Industries will act as prome contractor for the programme. Negotiations on pricing and industrial participation details are still ongoing. Deliveries would begin 36 months after contract signature.
First engine-powered ground runs were acomplished at Arlington on September 6, 2000. At that time, a first flight was still scheduled for October.
A formal presentation of the AH-1Z was made on 20 November 2000 at the Arlington flight test facility near Dallas, Texas. About 500 Bell employees worked on the programme at that time.
The AH-1Z made its first flight on December 7, 2000, at the Arlington facility of Bell. Prototype Z1 lifted off the ground at 11.42 am EST. The first flight lasted 15 minutes and consisted of initial hover handling qualities and basic hover work. Monty Nelson, Belll Helicopter's H-1 Program Chief Test Pilot, was in the back sear of teh aircraft. Lt.Col. Keith "Chief" Danel, US Marine Corps Government Integrated Test Team Lead, was in the front seat. By January 2001, the first AH-1Z had flown 22 flight hours. It is scheduled to be moved to NAS Patuxent River in March 2001.
The second AH-1Z will fly in December 2001, with the third following in January 2002, a good deal later than originally foresees as Litton has hit problems and cost overruns with the integrated avionics which are not yet fitted in "Z1". A 30 month test programme totaling about 1300 hours is envisaged until the summer of 2003.
Pending the award of a low-rate initial production contract, which was planned for fiscal year 2002 but may now slip, deliveries will begin in 2005 and are to run until 2013. Initial Operational Capability is schedules for FY 2006, a date not yet threatened as there is some leeway in the programme.
At the beginning of 2001 Bell was seeking export opportunities for the AH-1Z in Australia, Taiwan, Israel, Thailand, Switzerland and Japan.

Last updated 20. February 2001

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