Pakistan files request for $115M refurbishment of AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters

[Neo]

Pakistan files request for $115M refurbishment of AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters​

WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan of AH-1F Cobra helicopter refurbishment as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $115 million.

The Government of Pakistan has requested a possible sale of refurbishment and maintenance of eight AH-1F Cobra Helicopters. The Government of Pakistan has also requested warranties, system integration, spare and repairs parts, including transportation for the parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $115 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for economic progress in South Asia and a partner in the Global War on Terrorism. In addition, the Cobra helicopters are a very important part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Northwest Frontier Province. The Pakistan Army uses the Cobras to conduct and support counterinsurgency and counter terrorism operations.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be US Helicopter in Ozark, Alabama. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple U.S. Government and contractor representatives in Pakistan for approximately three weeks to ensure delivery and operability of the equipment. Also, a three person Field Office will be established for three years to provide technical assistance and contract administration for the Pakistan Army.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

 

[Imran Khan]

why again and again cobras we don''t have any any other choice?

 

[Imran Khan]

U.S. approves $1 bln in arms sales; Pakistan to get Cobra helicopters
submitted 1 day 15 hours ago
The U.S. Defense Department said it approved sales of radar and aircraft upgrades, missiles and other equipment valued at $1.01 billion to four U.S. allies including Pakistan. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said these U.S. allies are: Pakistan, France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.The Pentagon said it had approved the sale of AH-1F Cobra helicopter refurbishment and associated equipment to Pakistan. The Pentagon said the refurbishment would help Pakistan's efforts to defeat Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in its tribal areas, used as bases to launch attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and to conduct other counterterrorism missions. The prime contractor will be US Helicopter in Ozark, Alabama.

 

[metalfalcon]

We asked for Apaches

 

[Muradk]

Cobras are very easy to maintain on the other hand, Apaches need constant maintenance and that is very expensive. We might get a attack heli from China or Italy. We have been doing business with Italy 1974.
Again the question is do we have the money or not.

 

[fatman17]

why again and again cobras we don''t have any any other choice?

because our army pilots are well experienced on this platform and the depot level maintenence is also growing and improving rapidly. so it makes good sense, plus the AH-1S/F is a very effective weapon system under current conditions & requirements.
this transfer of 8 helis will bring the cobra inventory to 46. (20+20+8). 2 have been lost due to accidents.

 

[ejaz007]

Maintaining Pakistan’s Cobra Attack Helicopters
05-Oct-2008 13:56 EDT


In June 2008, US GAO auditors released a report that documented issues with the USA’s billions of dollars in “coalition support fund” aid to Pakistan. One of the items cited involved Pakistan’s 20-28 AH-1F “TOWCobra” helicopters; despite reimbursements of $55 million to maintain Pakistan’s MI-17 utility and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, the Pakistani army was not in fact maintaining them, causing poor readiness rates for these critical assets.

A recent DSCA announcement indicates that Pakistan may be getting more serious about maintaining its attack helicopters. Whether it becomes more serious about using them in areas under al-Qaeda’s control is another matter…

The Helicopters

The AH-1F was the final Cobra upgrade in the US Army, which phased in out of active army service in 1999 and National Guard service in 2001. They are still in use in number of countries, including Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, et. al. This model improved upon previous Cobra variants by adding a new fire-control system with a laser rangefinder; an improved cockpit layout with a head-up display (HUD) for the pilot; an AN/ALQ-144 IRCM (“disco ball” infra-red counter-measure) unit mounted above the engine; a cable cutter above and below the cockpit to protect the Cobra in NOE (nap-of-the-earth) flight; and a long exhaust pipe to reduce the helicopter’s infrared signature.

Subsquent upgrades to the fleet included improved night-fighting equipment via the C-NITE Cobra Night Attack system that gave the helicopters the ability to target enemies at night, and in bad weather that obscures normal vision.

Contracts and Key Events

Sept 26/08: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Pakistan’s official request to refurbish and maintain 8 AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. The Government of Pakistan has also requested warranties, system integration, delivery of spare and repairs parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, and other related elements of logistics support. The prime contractor will be US Helicopter in Ozark, AL (a.k.a. Bell Helicopter Services), and the estimated cost is $115 million.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple U.S. Government and contractor representatives in Pakistan for approximately 3 weeks to ensure delivery and operability of the equipment. This will be followed by a 3-person Field Office that will provide technical assistance and contract administration for the Pakistan Army for 3 years.

Feb 2/07: The USA transfers 8 C-NITE equipped AH-1F Cobras to the Pakistan Army, at the Qasim Airbase near Islamabad.

Sources indicate that Pakistan already had about 20 AH-1F helicopters, which were assigned to the Army’s base at Multan in central Pakistan. American issues with Pakistan’s nuclear weapons prevented further shipments, but systems upgrades were shipped in the mid-1990s. Pakistan’s newly-acknowledged status as a necessary ally against al-Qaeda has relaxed American sanctions, and made advanced weapon sales possible again despite some Congressional concerns. See fuller background in “US Transfers 8 More Attack Helicopters to Pakistan”.


Maintaining Pakistan’s Cobra Attack Helicopters

 

[fatman17]

Maintaining Pakistan’s Cobra Attack Helicopters
05-Oct-2008 13:56 EDT


In June 2008, US GAO auditors released a report that documented issues with the USA’s billions of dollars in “coalition support fund” aid to Pakistan. One of the items cited involved Pakistan’s 20-28 AH-1F “TOWCobra” helicopters; despite reimbursements of $55 million to maintain Pakistan’s MI-17 utility and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, the Pakistani army was not in fact maintaining them, causing poor readiness rates for these critical assets.

A recent DSCA announcement indicates that Pakistan may be getting more serious about maintaining its attack helicopters. Whether it becomes more serious about using them in areas under al-Qaeda’s control is another matter…

The Helicopters

The AH-1F was the final Cobra upgrade in the US Army, which phased in out of active army service in 1999 and National Guard service in 2001. They are still in use in number of countries, including Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, et. al. This model improved upon previous Cobra variants by adding a new fire-control system with a laser rangefinder; an improved cockpit layout with a head-up display (HUD) for the pilot; an AN/ALQ-144 IRCM (“disco ball” infra-red counter-measure) unit mounted above the engine; a cable cutter above and below the cockpit to protect the Cobra in NOE (nap-of-the-earth) flight; and a long exhaust pipe to reduce the helicopter’s infrared signature.

Subsquent upgrades to the fleet included improved night-fighting equipment via the C-NITE Cobra Night Attack system that gave the helicopters the ability to target enemies at night, and in bad weather that obscures normal vision.

Contracts and Key Events

Sept 26/08: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Pakistan’s official request to refurbish and maintain 8 AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. The Government of Pakistan has also requested warranties, system integration, delivery of spare and repairs parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, and other related elements of logistics support. The prime contractor will be US Helicopter in Ozark, AL (a.k.a. Bell Helicopter Services), and the estimated cost is $115 million.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple U.S. Government and contractor representatives in Pakistan for approximately 3 weeks to ensure delivery and operability of the equipment. This will be followed by a 3-person Field Office that will provide technical assistance and contract administration for the Pakistan Army for 3 years.

Feb 2/07: The USA transfers 8 C-NITE equipped AH-1F Cobras to the Pakistan Army, at the Qasim Airbase near Islamabad.

Sources indicate that Pakistan already had about 20 AH-1F helicopters, which were assigned to the Army’s base at Multan in central Pakistan. American issues with Pakistan’s nuclear weapons prevented further shipments, but systems upgrades were shipped in the mid-1990s. Pakistan’s newly-acknowledged status as a necessary ally against al-Qaeda has relaxed American sanctions, and made advanced weapon sales possible again despite some Congressional concerns. See fuller background in “US Transfers 8 More Attack Helicopters to Pakistan”.


Maintaining Pakistan’s Cobra Attack Helicopters

read politics...the army is using the cobras extensively in the FATA. it is the most effective CI weapon so far. infact i would say that the availability of spares & C-NITE upgrades was very slow from the US side (which the former head of DSCA has admitted)

 

[Sonaris]

U.S. approves $1 bln in arms sales; Pakistan to get Cobra helicopters
submitted 1 day 15 hours ago
The U.S. Defense Department said it approved sales of radar and aircraft upgrades, missiles and other equipment valued at $1.01 billion to four U.S. allies including Pakistan. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said these U.S. allies are: Pakistan, France, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.The Pentagon said it had approved the sale of AH-1F Cobra helicopter refurbishment and associated equipment to Pakistan. The Pentagon said the refurbishment would help Pakistan's efforts to defeat Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in its tribal areas, used as bases to launch attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and to conduct other counterterrorism missions. The prime contractor will be US Helicopter in Ozark, Alabama.

We asked for Apaches

because our army pilots are well experienced on this platform and the depot level maintenence is also growing and improving rapidly. so it makes good sense, plus the AH-1S/F is a very effective weapon system under current conditions & requirements.
this transfer of 8 helis will bring the cobra inventory to 46. (20+20+8). 2 have been lost due to accidents.

Interestingly, we did ask for Apaches like metalfalcon mentioned.
As a matter of fact the Army Aviation is looking at a complete overhaul.

 

[Black Stone]

I think Pakistan should get the Longbow, but if they can't, they can get the WZ-10 from China which is the Longbow equivalent.

 

[blain2]

read politics...the army is using the cobras extensively in the FATA. it is the most effective CI weapon so far. infact i would say that the availability of spares & C-NITE upgrades was very slow from the US side (which the former head of DSCA has admitted)

FMS support sucks ***! This is a fact and an ordeal for anyone who is on the receiving side of it. Pakistani maintainers and technicians work on a very limited budget and even then do wonders. When they are talking about Pakistani inability, its only half the story. We have been maintaining stuff that most other Armies would have dumped years ago. The problem is the logistics and timely arrival of the spares from the US.

A short while ago, there was an article in the US about some US technicians going over to Pakistan to upgrade and support the Pakistani Cobra. This guy was all praise about the abilities of the Pakistani engineers and technicians. I know our guys are good. An old officer told me that whenever he used to Ask the Americans about the spares/supplies, the answer would always be "on the high seas".

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

FMS support sucks ***! This is a fact and an ordeal for anyone who is on the receiving side of it. Pakistani maintainers and technicians work on a very limited budget and even then do wonders. When they are talking about Pakistani inability, its only half the story. We have been maintaining stuff that most other Armies would have dumped years ago. The problem is the logistics and timely arrival of the spares from the US.

A short while ago, there was an article in the US about some US technicians going over to Pakistan to upgrade and support the Pakistani Cobra. This guy was all praise about the abilities of the Pakistani engineers and technicians. I know our guys are good. An old officer told me that whenever he used to Ask the Americans about the spares/supplies, the answer would always be "on the high seas".

you're right, but there's also another thing most people don't notice, Pakistan has reverse engineered quite a bit of parts on the F-16's including the turbofan engine.

that's why the F-16's going to the US for MLU are quite different, they have pakistani parts. Pakistan is VERY good at reverse-engineering and now, we can even take a go at much more advanced systems.

 

[fatman17]

you're right, but there's also another thing most people don't notice, Pakistan has reverse engineered quite a bit of parts on the F-16's including the turbofan engine.

that's why the F-16's going to the US for MLU are quite different, they have pakistani parts. Pakistan is VERY good at reverse-engineering and now, we can even take a go at much more advanced systems.

this is good news if its true - asad, can u please provide some support for your claim!

 

[Evil Flare]

fatman17

Cruise Missiles

They are the Biggest Examples
& now Pakistan have a Very Good Stockpile of it

 

[fatman17]

fatman17

Cruise Missiles

They are the Biggest Examples
& now Pakistan have a Very Good Stockpile of it

i dont deny that but i was referring to F-16 parts specifically.