Manufacturing Country: United States of America
Company : Bell Helicopters
Cost $31 Million per unit
First Flight 2000
Primarily Used by United States Military Corps
Derived from AH-1 SuperCobra
Weight 5580 KG
Carry Load 2600 KG
Engines 2 Units (1800 x 2)
4 Blade Rotor
Cruise Speed 298 km/hr
Never Exceed Speed 411km /hr in a dive
Range 685 KM
Range with Payload
Ceiling 6100 Meters
Climb rate 14.2 meters / second
Gun -> Gatling Gun 750 rounds
Hard points up to 6
Rocket Option 1: LAU-G1D/A (19 launches)
Rocket Option 2: Hydra (70 launches)
Rocket Option 3: LAU-68C/A (7 launches)
Missile 2 each side: Air to Air Side Winder Two Missiles
Rocket Option 6: Hell Fire Missiles 16
Manufacturing Country: Turkey
Company : Turkish Aero Space Industries
Cost $27 Million per unit
First Flight 2009
Primarily Used by Turkish Army
Derived from Agusta 129
Length 13.45 Meters
Weight 3000 KG
Carry Load 2000 KG
Engines 2 Units (1361 x 2)
5 Blade Rotor
Cruise Speed 269 km/hr
Never Exceed Speed 350km /hr in a dive
Range 561 KM
Ceiling 6096 Meters
Climb rate 14.0 meters / second
Gun -> Gatling Gun 500 rounds
Rocket Option 1: 38 x 18 mm Unguided Rockets
Rocket Option 2: 75 x 2 inch Un Guided Rockets
Rocket Option 3: Machine Gun
Missile 4 each side: Up to 4 Air to Air Sidewinder Missiles
Rocket Option 6: Hell Fire 8
Conclusion:
Technical Edge for Vipers
The Viper offers a better weapons selection and more technologically advance weapons arrays and more quantity if Pakistan aims to get these in 2015. The Vipers are also better in term of range and horizontal speed and payload. If a viper was being chased by T-129 the Viper would likely outrun the T-129 easily
Could come with USAid program to upgrade allied military.
We could get a package of 36 Helicopters in 2015 its quite possible but time will tell
One could argue considering how much mileage Pakistani Cobras have took for operations in support of US in last 3-4 years not to mentions losses it would be justified process to attain 36-40 Gun Ships as part of USAid Package in 2015
T-129 Decent Helicopter better then what Pakistan has now and not just a fill gap solution but its a "Real Solution"
However the T-129 , Turkish Helicopters do match the Vipers on vertical climb rate and ability to provide serious fire power and protection for Tanks etc. The Range do cover a lot of ground, almost 500 km almost covers most of Pakistan's coastal areas Patrol
The T-129 Appears to also offer good support against fighter jets as they carry Anti fighter jet missiles.
Transfer of Technology and Mass Production Option:
The choice of Mass production would certainly tilt the favor in for T-129 no doubt imagine 200-250 Helicopters protecting Military vehicles , cities and borders with no strings attached deal great choice.
The T-129 might not match the Viper in term of fire power , missile by missile or Technology however , it would offer 65-75% capabilities in term of fire power
Perhaps you can argue with , little maturity and future upgrades the gap would bridge between T-129 and Viper.
And also with mass production line , Pakistan could make 2-3 Units to make up slight variance.
Great Resource against Anti Terrorist Activities:
Does not matters if its the Vipers or T-129 both copters would offer a stern support to help destroy Terrorist safe heavens across borders weather they be in india or Afghanistan.
The mountainous regions and forest will not offer more refuge to hit and run tactics as the Attack helicopters aided with UAV surveillance offer a deadly combination against hit and run tactics used by terrorist
The biggest gain would be that Pakistan would be able to better Patrol , mountains and remote areas of country (Baluchistan remote areas, Mountains , Afghan - Pakistan border areas).
Looking from the close cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan its quite possible that T-129 will be becoming a major part of Pakistani Military Aviation Corp
It remains also to be seen what the Military Chief recommends for his Military Units. I am sure the Military Leader will certainly favor improving the Military Aviation Corp from its present state.
Since Honorable Musharraf sahib left , we have not seen a major acquisition to truly boost the moral of forces and I hope under the new leadership we will get some much needed improvement in forces.
The two areas
a) Pakistan Aviation Corp improvements by adding new Attack / Transport Helicopters
b) Frigates & Submarines for Navy
Would certainly bring Pakistan to a great landmark and push the capabilities of the forces to a whole new level.