History & Operations of Cobra AH-1 in Pakistan Army

[Pakhtoon yum]

This article explain the gaping holes in Army Aviation's attack fleet! Its sad that a war is what it had to take to really start a push for modernisation! T129 + Armament makes complete sense as Cobra being a great machine can be let down by the weapons, alternatively opposite can be true!

Wars change and boost development, it's a sad fact.

 

[mingle]

According to Haris PDF turkey going to upgrade our cobras.

 

[Signalian]

Yeah , in war thunder the tunguska with AHEAD shreds ah1z's , they're usually hidden and use their team mates light tanks to go fast in the open, the helicopter spots and comes closers , tunguska shreds it while it's entire focus is on trying to get a lock on a zig zagging 72kmh tiny tank

You can actually shot down attack helicopters with TOW missiles and other ATGMs if you are skilled enough and the helicopter is hovering or flying slow.

Even the most skilled manpad operator would take longer to set up..A volley of TOWs would give any tank column a significant emotional event.

so you'r gonna die in short time, Turkey was dire to need just a couple super cobra for years, US couldnt provide us for some reasons, we only could get 3 super cobra in 2012 just before ATAKs went serial production. We know how important to have a real gunship, when your soldiers need, you have to provide real CAS otherwise casualties are inevitable.

IR Countermeasures on PAA AH-1F

Pakistan Army Aviation AH-1 F/S are equipped with ALQ-144 (V), which is an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) set designed to protect helicopters against portable infrared-seeking missiles. The active part of the system contains an electrically heated cylindrical ceramic block. It radiates modulated IR energy 360 degrees around the aircraft. The system is mounted close to the engine exhaust because the radiant energy emitted by the ALQ-144(V) is similar to that of the engine, operators can modulate the outputs of the ALQ-144(V) to confuse a missile’s guidance system so the missile is steered away and/or triggered to detonate prematurely.

https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=641

Enhanced Sensors and NV

Pakistan AH-1 F/S are equipped with C-NITE (FLIR) and Night vision.

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/maintaining-pakistans-cobra-attack-helicopters-05098/

Target Acquisition (SAM Threat):

Target acquisition can be much easier however if a ground observer is available. Located in a protected position where he can see the objective, an observer can mark it with smoke, laser designator or tracer fire, talk the pilot in to the target, or simply describe the target and its surroundings. These additional cues help the pilot find and positively identify the target more quickly in combat, shortening the exposure time of the aircraft as well as reducing the risk of targeted by enemy SAM.

The CAS doctrine requires:
1. An observer e.g. Air Liaison Officer ALO
2. Forward Air Controller FAC
3. Fire Support Officer FSO

In their absence, the Commander may fill this role while seated in Bell 412 Scout helicopter(as above, can be armed with FLIR sensors, combination used in WOT), while other AH-1's are providing supporting fire. When attacking the target, the AH-1 may employ hovering fire, running fire, or diving fire. The type of attack selected depends on the threat, type of target weather, terrain, the weapon to be fired, and the weapons effects required on the target. This means for CAS (Close Air Support), a complete intel report on enemy assets is there and can be updated mid combat also. CCA (close combat attack) can make AH-1 vulnerable to enemy SAM threat and that's where IRCM plays its part effectively.

Handling SAM Threat

Hovering fire is the most common method of engagement when firing TOW missiles, since cannon and rocket fire are less accurate. The stability of AH-1 increases with forward movement, however making running or diving fire more accurate for gun and rocket engagements because of the lessened effects of rotor down-wash, diving fire is the most accurate method of engagement for unguided ammunition. Discounted as a viable technique when the proliferation of the shoulder fired SAM’s worldwide made aircraft survivability above terrain flight altitudes questionable, diving fire is effective as the reduced size of the ordinance impact zone reduces the chance of ammunition landing outside the target area, minimizing the chance for unwanted collateral damage. The AH-1 starts in a terrain flight mission profile to provide protection from SAM and other air defense threats.
As the pilot approaches the target area, he initiates a maneuver called a bump, which is a slight climb to a higher altitude to bring the target in sight and begin the engagement. The bump altitude is dependent on the nature of the target and its surroundings but should establish a clear line of sight (LOS)/ Line of Fire (LOF) for a diving fire attack on the target.

AH-1 formations can also be broken down into 2 or 3 helicopter sections, which then enables more room to maneuver in the battle position while allowing mutually supporting positions when target gives an opportunity. SAM threats are the first ones to be taken out, then the AH-1 moves in for MBT and other armored targets. Baktar Shikan can attack and destroy ERA equipped enemy MBT's.

@Khafee @Tps43

 

[Philip the Arab]

IR Countermeasures on PAA AH-1F

Pakistan Army Aviation AH-1 F/S are equipped with ALQ-144 (V), which is an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) set designed to protect helicopters against portable infrared-seeking missiles. The active part of the system contains an electrically heated cylindrical ceramic block. It radiates modulated IR energy 360 degrees around the aircraft. The system is mounted close to the engine exhaust because the radiant energy emitted by the ALQ-144(V) is similar to that of the engine, operators can modulate the outputs of the ALQ-144(V) to confuse a missile’s guidance system so the missile is steered away and/or triggered to detonate prematurely.

https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=641

Enhanced Sensors and NV

Pakistan AH-1 F/S are equipped with C-NITE (FLIR) and Night vision.

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/maintaining-pakistans-cobra-attack-helicopters-05098/

Target Acquisition (SAM Threat):

Target acquisition can be much easier however if a ground observer is available. Located in a protected position where he can see the objective, an observer can mark it with smoke, laser designator or tracer fire, talk the pilot in to the target, or simply describe the target and its surroundings. These additional cues help the pilot find and positively identify the target more quickly in combat, shortening the exposure time of the aircraft as well as reducing the risk of targeted by enemy SAM.

The CAS doctrine requires:
1. An observer e.g. Air Liaison Officer ALO
2. Forward Air Controller FAC
3. Fire Support Officer FSO

View attachment 553052

In their absence, the Commander may fill this role while seated in Bell 412 Scout helicopter(as above, can be armed with FLIR sensors, combination used in WOT), while other AH-1's are providing supporting fire. When attacking the target, the AH-1 may employ hovering fire, running fire, or diving fire. The type of attack selected depends on the threat, type of target weather, terrain, the weapon to be fired, and the weapons effects required on the target. This means for CAS (Close Air Support), a complete intel report on enemy assets is there and can be updated mid combat also. CCA (close combat attack) can make AH-1 vulnerable to enemy SAM threat and that's where IRCM plays its part effectively.

Handling SAM Threat

Hovering fire is the most common method of engagement when firing TOW missiles, since cannon and rocket fire are less accurate. The stability of AH-1 increases with forward movement, however making running or diving fire more accurate for gun and rocket engagements because of the lessened effects of rotor down-wash, diving fire is the most accurate method of engagement for unguided ammunition. Discounted as a viable technique when the proliferation of the shoulder fired SAM’s worldwide made aircraft survivability above terrain flight altitudes questionable, diving fire is effective as the reduced size of the ordinance impact zone reduces the chance of ammunition landing outside the target area, minimizing the chance for unwanted collateral damage. The AH-1 starts in a terrain flight mission profile to provide protection from SAM and other air defense threats.
As the pilot approaches the target area, he initiates a maneuver called a bump, which is a slight climb to a higher altitude to bring the target in sight and begin the engagement. The bump altitude is dependent on the nature of the target and its surroundings but should establish a clear line of sight (LOS)/ Line of Fire (LOF) for a diving fire attack on the target.

AH-1 formations can also be broken down into 2 or 3 helicopter sections, which then enables more room to maneuver in the battle position while allowing mutually supporting positions when target gives an opportunity. SAM threats are the first ones to be taken out, then the AH-1 moves in for MBT and other armored targets. Baktar Shikan can attack and destroy ERA equipped enemy MBT's.

@Khafee @Tps43

BGM-71 Tow missile is wire guided which means that no countermeasures will affect the flightpath since it can't be jammed. A single Tow missile that scores a direct hill will down any helicopter known to man.

 

[xbat]

sorry but Turkish AH-1W Super Cobra was much modern than your 1F s, see the result.

 

[Signalian]

BGM-71 Tow missile is wire guided which means that no countermeasures will affect the flightpath since it can't be jammed. A single Tow missile that scores a direct hill will down any helicopter known to man.

Enemy AT/SAM team will be taken out before it can operate the tube.

sorry but Turkish AH-1W Super Cobra was much modern than your 1F s, see the result.

Result of wrong tactics.

 

[Signalian]

AH-1 firing all its weapons

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,