THE BEST WAR HELICOPTER

Denel AH-2 Rooivalk

Manufacturer	Denel
First flight	1990
Introduced	1999
Status	Active service
Primary user	South African Air Force
Number built	12
Unit cost	$40 million (2007, estimated)
Developed from	Aérospatiale Puma

 

  

Specifications General characteristics Crew: 2 (pilot & weapon systems officer) Length: 18.73 m, 61ft 5in (main rotor to tail rotor); 16.39 m fuselage () Rotor diameter: 15.58 m (51ft) Height: 5.19 m (17ft) Empty weight: 5,190 kg (11,441 lb) Max takeoff weight: 8,750 kg (19,290 lb) Internal fuel capacity: 1,469 kg, (3,238 lb) Powerplant: 2× Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshafts, 1,492 kW (sea-level ISA) (2,001 shp) each Performance Maximum speed: 309 km/h (193 mph) Range: 700 km combat; 1,130 km ferry (440 mi / 700 mi) Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) Rate of climb: 13.3 m/s (2,105 ft/min) Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²) Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg) Armament 1 x F2 20 mm cannon, 700 rounds 8 or 16 x Mokopa ZT-6 long-range anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), 4 x MBDA Mistral air-to-air missiles, 36 or 72 x 70 mm folding fin aerial rockets (FFAR)

Agusta/Magusta A-129 Manufacturer Agusta AgustaWestland First flight 15 September 1983 Status Active service Primary user Italian Army Produced 1980s-present Number built 60 Variants TAI/AgustaWestland T-129

Specifications (A129) Line drawing for original A129 Mangusta Data from Augusta Westland A129 Technical Data General characteristics Crew: 2: pilot and weapon systems officer Length: 12.28 m (40 ft 3 in) Rotor diameter: 11.90 m (39 ft 1 in) Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in) Disc area: 111.22 m² (1,197.25 ft²) Empty weight: 2,530 kg (5,575 lb) Max takeoff weight: 4,600 kg (10,140 lb) Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Gem 2-1004D (license built by Piaggio) turboshafts, 664 kW (890 shp) each Rotor systems: 4 blades on main rotor Performance Maximum speed: 278 km/h (148 knots, 170 mph) Cruise speed: 229 km/h (135 knots, 155 mph) Range: 510 km (275 nm, 320 mi) Ferry range: 1,000 km (540 nm, 620 mi) Service ceiling: 4,725 m (15,500 ft) Rate of climb: 10.2 m/s (2,025 ft/min) Armament Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) three-barrel gatling-type cannon (500 rounds) (only CBT version) Rockets: 4 pods with 38× 81 mm (3.19 in) unguided rockets or 76× 70 mm (2.75 in) unguided rockets or 12.7 mm machine gun-pod Missiles: 8× AGM-114 Hellfire or BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles 4-8× AIM-92 Stinger or Mistral anti-aircraft missiles

Kamov Ka-50/Ka-52 Alligator National origin Soviet Union / Russia Manufacturer Kamov First flight 17 June 1982 Introduction 28 August 1995 Status Active service Primary user Russian Air Force Number built Ka-50: 16 as of 2006 Ka-52: 10 as of 2006 Unit cost 484 million rubles (approx. $15 million) as of May 2009

Specifications

Kamov Ka-52 on display

Data for Ka-50, differences for Ka-52 noted.

General characteristics

• Crew: One (for Ka-52: two)
• Length: 13.50 m (44 ft 3 in)
• Rotor diameter: 2x 14.50 m (2x 47 ft 7 in)
• Height: 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
• Disc area: 330.3 m² (3,555 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,800 kg (17,200 lb)
• Loaded weight: 9,800 kg (21,600 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 10,800 kg (23,810 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Klimov TV3-117VK turboshafts, 1,660 kW (2,226 shp) each
• For Ka-52:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Loaded weight: 10,400 kg (22,930 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 390 km/h (204 knots, 242 mph) in dive
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h (146 knots, 168 mph)
• Range: 1,160 km (720 miles)
• Combat radius: 460 km (286 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10 m/s (32.8 ft/s)
• Disc loading: 30 kg/m² (6 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.33 kW/kg (0.20 hp/lb)

Armament

• 1x mobile semi-rigid 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon (460 rounds total, dual feeding AP or HE-Frag)
• A variety of payloads on the four under-wing hardpoints, including 23 mm UPK-23-250 gun pods (240 rounds each), 2 x APU-6 Missle racks, able to accommodate a total of 12 9K121 Vikhr anti-tank missiles, Vympel R-73 (NATO: AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles, 80 x 80 mm S-8 rockets and 20 x 122 mm S-13 rocket, Kh-25 semi-active laser guided tactical air-to-ground missiles, presumably S-25/S-25L high caliber rockets, 4x 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 2x 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs, 500 L (130 US gal) external fuel tanks. Reportedly, twin Igla light air-to-air missile launchers under each wingtip countermeasure pod (total 4 missiles). Maximum total payload 2,000 kg.
• Two pods on the wingtips with flare and chaff countermeasure dispensers, 4 UV-26 dispensers each (total 512 chaff/flare cartridges in each pod)

Bell AH-1Z Viper

National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
First flight	8 December 2000
Introduction	2009
Status	In development
Primary user	United States Marine Corps
Developed from	AH-1 SuperCobra

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra

 

Specifications

Data from Bell Specifications,The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003,Modern Battlefield Warplanes

General characteristics

• Crew: 2: pilot, co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
• Capacity: 6,661 lb (3,021 kg)
• Length: 58 ft 3 in (17.8 m)
• Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6 m)
• Height: 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
• Disc area: 1,808 ft² (168.0 m²)
• Empty weight: 12,300 lb (5,580 kg)
• Useful load: 5,764 lb (2,620 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 18,500 lb (8,390 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,340 kW) each
• Rotor systems: 4 blades on main rotor, 4 blades on tail rotor

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 222 knots (255 mph, 411 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 160 kn (184 mph, 296 km/h)
• Range: 370 nmi (426 mi, 685 km)
• Combat radius: 125 nmi (144 mi, 231 km) with 2,500 lb (1,130 kg) payload
• Service ceiling: 20,000+ ft (6,100+ m)
• Rate of climb: 2,790 ft/min (14.2 m/s)

Armament

• Guns: 1 x 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled gatling cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 round ammo capacity)
• Hardpoints: Up to 6 pylon stations on stub wing
• Rockets: 2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 rockets - Mounted in LAU-68C/A (7 shot) or LAU-61D/A (19 shot) launchers
• Missiles:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles - 1 mounted on each wing tip station (total of 2)
  • AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles - Up to 16 missiles mounted in four 4-round M272 missile launchers, two on each wing

Avionics

• Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar

Eurocopter Tiger

 

 

Manufacturer	Eurocopter (Globa)
First flight	April 1991
Introduced	2003
Status	Active service
Primary users	German Army French Army Australian Army Spanish Army
Unit cost	US$31 million (2001)

 

Specifications (Tiger HAP)

German Tiger UHT during a looping demonstration at ILA 2006

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, weapon systems officer)
• Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
• Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
• Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
• Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 873 kW (1,170 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
• Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard stations: 1300km)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: ** 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret

On its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Eurocopter Tiger can carry a combination of the following weapons:

• on each of its two inner hardpoints:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • 2x 20 mm (0.787 in) machine cannons in a pod, or
  • 22× 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided missiles in a pod, or
  • 8x AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles
• on each of its two outer hardpoints:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • 2× Mistral air-to-air missiles, or
  • 12× 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided missiles in a pod

Mil Mi-28N Миль (HAVOC)

Manufacturer	Mil
First flight	January 1988
Introduced	1996 (Russia)
Status	Deliveries underway
Primary users	Russian Air Force Venezuelan Air Force
Unit cost	€ 12 million
Developed from	Mil Mi-24

Specifications (Mi-28N)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot (rear), 1 navigator/weapons operator (front)
• Length: 17.01 m (55 ft 10 in)
• Rotor diameter: 17.20 m (56 ft 5 in)
• Height: 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
• Disc area: 232.35 m² (2,501 ft²)
• Empty weight: 8,600 kg (18,960 lb)
• Loaded weight: 10,700 kg (23,590 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 11,500 kg (25,350 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshaft, 1,636 kW (2,194 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 320 km/h (172 knots, 199 mph)
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h (145 knots, 168 mph)
• Range: 435 km (234 nmi, 270 mi)
• Combat radius: 200 km (108 nmi, 124 mi) ; with 10 min loiter and 5% reserves
• Ferry range: 1,100 km (593 nmi, 683 mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,700 m (19,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1× chin-mounted 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon with 250 rounds (±110° horizontal fire)
• Hardpoints: Two pylons under each stub wing to mount bombs, rockets, missiles, and gun pods. Main armament configurations include:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • 16 Ataka-V ant-tank missiles and 40 S-8 rockets, Or
  • 16 Ataka-V ant-tank missiles, and 10 S-13 rocket, Or
  • 16 Ataka-V ant-tank missiles, and two 23 mm Gsh-23L gun pods with 250 rounds each.
  • Other ordnance: 9K118 Sheksna and 9A-2200 ant-tank missiles, 8 Igla-V and Vympel R-73 air-to-air missiles, 2 KMGU-2 mine dispensers

Boeing AH-64 Apache

Also known as

AH Mk1
AH-64D-I Apache
AH-64DHA Apache Longbow
AH-64DJP Apache Longbow
Apache AH1
Block I Apache
Block II Apache

National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight	30 September 1975
Introduced	April 1986
Status	Active service
Primary users	United States Army Israel Air Force Royal Netherlands Air Force Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Produced	1983–present
Number built	1,174 as of February 2010
Unit cost	AH-64A: US$20 million (2007), AH-64D (AH-64A upgrade): US$18 million (2007)
Variants	AgustaWestland Apache

 

 

Specifications (AH-64A/D)

Weapon loadout of the AH-64 Apache

Data from Jane's Information Group, Bishop

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot, and co-pilot/gunner)
• Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)
• Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
• Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)
• Disc area: 1,809.5 ft² (168.11 m²)
• Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
• Loaded weight: 17,650 lb (8,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C (1990–present) & T700-GE-701D (AH-64D block III) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp, -701D: 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW, -701D: 1,490 kW) each
• Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
• Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
• Range: 257 nmi (295 mi, 476 km) with Longbow radar mast
• Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
• Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,180 mi, 1,900 km)
• Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m) minimum loaded
• Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
• Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.9 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (0.31 KW/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30 × 113 mm (1.18 × 4.45 in) M230 Chain Gun with 1,200 rounds
• Hardpoints: Four pylon stations on the stub wings. Longbows also have a station on each wingtip for an AIM-92 ATAS twin missile pack.
• Rockets: Hydra 70 air-to-ground rockets
• Missiles: Typically AGM-114 Hellfire variants, however, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and AIM-92 Stinger may also be carried.

Avionics

• Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar (Note: can only be mounted on the AH-64D)