Thread: Attack Helicopters

Originally Posted by hj786

I can't decide which attack chopper I would procure if I was commander of Pakistan Army's aviation wing, to replace cobras for COIN ops. The chopper must be like the old Cobra's in every way - small, cheap, well-armed with rockets and guns. Good loitering capability is a must for COIN ops and ease of maintainance is important.
As far as I can see, all these current attack choppers are big and very very expensive. What would you guys pick? I reckon used cobras are the only solution that fit the criteria - Rooivalk would have been good, but it is not being manufactured, the South Africans are designing a new attack chopper AFAIK. Anybody know how expensive the new super-cobra variants are? If they're similar in cost to stuff like Tigre, they're no good either.

I would suggest either used or new-build OH-58D Kiowa Warriors; they're small, relatively fast, very relaible, carry a decent loadout (though nothing approaching what a -64D can carry), and costs about 1/3 as much as a new-build AH-64. Plus, it's a civilain airframe (Bell JetRanger), so parts should be relatively easy to get.

Originally Posted by hj786

I can't decide which attack chopper I would procure if I was commander of Pakistan Army's aviation wing, to replace cobras for COIN ops. The chopper must be like the old Cobra's in every way - small, cheap, well-armed with rockets and guns. Good loitering capability is a must for COIN ops and ease of maintainance is important.
As far as I can see, all these current attack choppers are big and very very expensive. What would you guys pick? I reckon used cobras are the only solution that fit the criteria - Rooivalk would have been good, but it is not being manufactured, the South Africans are designing a new attack chopper AFAIK. Anybody know how expensive the new super-cobra variants are? If they're similar in cost to stuff like Tigre, they're no good either.

Why not upgrade to AH-1Ws or the upcoming Zulus?

You already have the structure in place to support both the airframe and training.

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Why not upgrade to AH-1Ws or the upcoming Zulus?

You already have the structure in place to support both the airframe and training.

Problem is I reckon new cobras are probably almost as expensive as longbows and so on since they have similar advanced avionics systems right? somebody correct me if i'm wrong, please)
That's why I don't see the point of Pakistan buying them. It would be better to buy the cheaper Chinese WZ-10 or get Turkey to help Pak build T-129 Atak in Pakistan - Atak will be pricey too, but at least Pakistan's economy will gain from the project. Of course WZ-10 and T-129 won't be flying in Pakistan for years, China needs to build lots of WZ-10 for itself and Turkey hasn't finished the T-129 yet.
Old cobras are probably expensive to maintain what with all the COIN stuff going on, so it's worth buying new choppers. Currently the rumours are that Pak. Army are looking at various European options (Tigre, Mangusta, they were looking at Rooivalk too until it got cancelled) but I believe these are simply too expensive for Pakistan - all they need is a small cheap chopper that can fire a big gun and lots of rockets for COIN ops. (and equipped with decent night-vision/electro-optical targeting gear of course).
I think Stitch's suggestion of Kiowa Warrior is the best one, although if new AH-1s aren't too pricey they would be a good choice too. I think the PA will just buy used cobra airframes until stuff like Z-10 and Atak are available though.