Four blades instead of two: US Marines decommission Supercobra helicopter

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The US Marine Corps has officially decommissioned the Bell AH-1W "Super Cobra" helicopter in service after more than 30 years of service. It was replaced by a more advanced version of the combat rotorcraft.

The AH-1W Super Cobra has served excellently and has left a remarkable legacy of timely attack helicopter support for our Marines

- explained in the military department.

Originally designated AH-1T +, the Super Cobra first took off in 1983. Bell delivered the first AH-1Ws to the Marines in 1986, and the last helicopter in 1999. Then the fleet of these machines, on which the marines flew until recently, totaled 179 units.

The iconic two-bladed helicopter has served as a dedicated strike vehicle for the Marines during numerous campaigns, including Operation Desert Storm [1991], Iraqi Freedom [2003] and Enduring Freedom [2001, Afghan Campaign]

- note the American publications.

However, the Supercobra did not fully satisfy the wishes of the ILC. To replace it, the Bell AH-1Z Viper variant was developed with a new experimental four-bladed main rotor, consisting of composite materials. This modification has a low noise level and less vulnerability to hits and damage. The release of a new iteration is carried out by upgrading the existing Supercobras.
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    1. -1
      20 October 2020 05: 52
      The US Marine Corps officially decommissioned the Bell AH-1W "Super Cobra" helicopter

      They wrote off something, but they will sell to their "allies in democracy" at full cost, like new ones ... Not that Russia is giving from right to left ...
      1. -3
        20 October 2020 06: 29
        Quote: Vasyan1971
        Not that Russia gives from right to left ...

        Don't you have enough money for milk? Me too (especially since the latest inflation), but whining and biting is like a dog-like thing. hi
        1. +1
          20 October 2020 10: 04
          The man just wrote on the case .. And does not whine about milk ..
          1. 0
            22 October 2020 04: 52
            Quote: Roman070280
            The man just wrote on the case .. And does not whine about milk ..

            What would a "person" write, he must be a person. fool
      2. +4
        20 October 2020 07: 11
        They also donate such cars .... if they sell, then with modernization.
    2. +1
      20 October 2020 10: 23
      It was replaced by a more advanced version of the combat rotorcraft.
      The old is always replaced by the new.
    3. 0
      20 October 2020 12: 45
      Progress does not stand still, if the budget allows, let them write off)) They will give it to someone, hardware for free, modernization at the price of two new ones))
    4. 0
      20 October 2020 15: 21
      Why hasn't the Apache displaced these cobra clones yet?
      1. +2
        20 October 2020 22: 24
        Apache is much more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
        "From the ground" (my impressions sometime) the difference between Cobra and Apache is as follows:
        Cobra is heard in advance - it makes noise long before you see it.
        And you hear the Apache only when it has already flown overhead.
        1. -2
          21 October 2020 00: 40
          Super Cobra replaced with Viper. It is difficult to single out who is better than Viper or Apache right away, but given that Viper has the infrastructure left over from Super Cobra, the choice is obvious.
        2. 0
          21 October 2020 09: 57
          Kamov's coaxial helicopters are also heard very far away, the Mi-8 is quieter.
          It seems to me that the matter is in the design of the screw.
          By the way, the price of Apache service is still surprising - it is just gigantic.

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