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Air ForcesUnited States

AH-1W Super Cobra

Attack helicopterFielded 1986Pending verification
Air ForcesUSA
AH-1W Super Cobra
Photo: 廢柴老闆 · CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeAttack helicopter
Date of introduction1986
ProliferationAt least 6 countries
ManufacturerBell HelicopterMed[1]
Crewtwo: pilot, co-pilot/gunnerMed[1]
Dimensions and weight
Height4.32 m14 ftMed[1]
Empty weight4,600 kg10,141 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine2 x General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaftsMed[1]
Thrust / power1725 hp for each engineMed[1]
Service ceiling3,720 m12,205 ftMed[1]
Rate of climb8.2 m/sMed[1]
Endurance3 hoursMed[1]
Protection
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Counter Measures (Chaff/Flares)AN/ALE-39 Chaff system and SUU-4/1 Flare dispensersMed[1]
Armament and payload
Hardpoints4 eaMed[1]
Wing Mounted Weapons: additional weapons the ah-1h can carry8 x AGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles; or 2 x AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radar missiles; or 8 x AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles; or 4 x CMU-55B fuel-air explosive weapons; or 16 x 5-in (127-mm) Zuni rockets; or 4 x 78 gal (295-liter) auxiliary fuel tanks; or 2 x…Med[1]
Rockets and BombsThe SuperCobra can also carry various pods with unguided rockets, cluster munitions, napalm bombsMed[1]
Armament1 x M61 Vulcan; AGM-114 Hellfire; AIM-9 SidewinderMed[1]
Fire control
Fire Control RadarYes, type INAMed[1]
Sensor Suite(s) AvailableYes, low speed air data sensorMed[1]
TV CameraLow-light TV cameraMed[1]
Thermal Sightsthermal sights and a FLIR to allow for acquisition, launch, and tracking of all types of TOW missiles in all weather conditionsMed[1]
NavigationDoppler navigationMed[1]
Variants
AH-1J SeaCobraOriginal twin engine version.[1]
AH-1J InternationalExport version of the AH-1J SeaCobra.[1]
AH-1T Improved SeaCobraImproved version with extended tail boom and fuselage and an upgraded transmission and engines.[1]
AH-1(4B)W Viper"Four-Bladed Whiskey" test version with a four-bladed bearingless composite main rotor based on Bell 680 rotor. A prototype was converted from AH-1T 161022.[1]
AH-1Z ViperA new variant nicknamed "Zulu Cobra", and developed in conjunction with the UH-1Y Venom for the H-1 upgrade program. The variant includes an upgraded four-blade main rotor and adds the Target Sight System (TSS).[1]
Bell 309 KingCobraExperimental all-weather version based on the AH-1G single-engine and AH-1J twin-engine designs.[36] Two Bell 309s were produced; the first was powered by a PW&C T400-CP-400 Twin-Pac engine set and the second was powered by a Lycoming T-55-L-7C engine.[1]
CobraVenomProposed version for the United Kingdom.[1]
AH-1Z King CobraAH-1Z offered for Turkey's ATAK program; selected for production in 2000, but later canceled when Bell and Turkey could not reach an agreement on production.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 3Confidence · Source
1 x M61 VulcanHydraulically, electrically or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-c
Med[1]
Quantity
750 round
Type
Hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatl
Caliber
20 mm
AGM-114 HellfireAnti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
Med[1]
Range
0–11 km0–7 mi · 0–6 nmi
Quantity
4 ea, one on each hardpoint ea
Type
Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
Guidance
Semi-active laser homing millimeter wave radar seeker
Warhead
High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT)
Speed
Mach 1.3
Length
1.6 m
AIM-9 Sidewindershort-range air-to-air missile
Med[1]
Range
1–35 km1–22 mi · 1–19 nmi
Quantity
4 ea, one on each hardpoint
Type
short-range air-to-air missile
Guidance
Infrared homing (most models) semi-active radar homing (AIM-9C
Warhead
WDU-17/B annular blast-frag
Warhead weight
9.4 kg
Speed
Mach 2.5
Length
3.02 m
Summary

The AH-1W, the backbone of the United States Marine Corps. Marines have been flying the AH-1W Super Cobra since 1986.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
ChinaIranTürkiyeTaiwanUnited States
Sources
  1. AH-1W Super Cobra American Attack Helicopter, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC0)