2. Introduction
• The Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack
helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra
• That was developed for the United States Marine
Corps.
• The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearingless,
composite main rotor system, uprated transmission,
and a new target sighting system.
• The AH-1Z is part of the H-1 upgrade program. It is
also called "Zulu Cobra" in reference to its variant
letter.
3.
4. Design
• The AH-1Z incorporates new rotor technology with upgraded
military avionics, weapons systems, and electro-optical sensors
in an integrated weapons platform.
• The AH-1Z's new bearingless, hingeless rotor system has 75%
fewer parts than that of four-bladed articulated systems.
• The blades are made of composites, which have an increased
ballistic survivability, and there is a semiautomatic folding
system for storage aboard amphibious assault ships
• Each wing has two other stations for 2.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra
70 rocket pods.
• The system has various view modes and can track with FLIR or
by TV.
5.
6. Foreign interest
• On 21 September 2012, the U.S. Congress was
notified of the possible purchase of 36 AH-1Z Vipers
by South Korea.
• The request included 84 engines (72 installed and 12
spares), 288 AGM-114K3 Hellfire missiles, 72 AIM-
9M-8 Sidewinder missiles, integrated missiles
launchers, targeting systems, and radar jammers.
• The order would be worth $2.6 billion.
• In April 2013, South Korea announced they had
selected the AH-64E Apache
7.
8. Specifications (AH-1Z)
• 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
9.
10. 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 or APKWS
II 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
