US wants to test chopper at Siachen Kashmir

Frontier Post ^ | April 23, 2002

[swarthyguy]

NEW DELHI (Online): The US defence department wants to test its AH-1Z Bell Helicopter, perhaps the world’s most advanced helicopter gunship, at Siachen.It has yet been flight-tested only till 12,000 feet.

Bell now seeks an “envelope expansion” for this gunship.

India has made it clear that any gunship that it acquires must have high-altitude capability.

Bell would like to take up the challenge, and the only way of proving this capability is by demonstrating it.

Trade sources admit that it’s an “incredible challenge”.

The AH-1Z has the latest target sight system, 16 wing stations for rockets, Stinger and Hellfire missile firing and anti-weapons capability, and integrated glass cockpits for two pilots.

Incidentally, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has also set out to produce a Light Attack Helicopter for Kargilesque heights.

There is a joke that the only thing that a helicopter can carry at such forbidding heights as Kargil and Siachen is a passenger manifest.

There are no helicopters designed to fly at such high altitudes.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has, however, defied the odds by flying its Mi-17 and Cheetah transport helicopters up to 15,000 and 20,000 feet respectively.

[toddst]

Thanks for the post. Interesting.

There are no helicopters designed to fly at such high altitudes. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has, however, defied the odds by flying its Mi-17 and Cheetah transport helicopters up to 15,000 and 20,000 feet respectively.

Those are some sort of motivated pilots. Any pictures of the new chopper?

[swarthyguy]

Maybe the BellTextron Web site from the FW facility...

[Jeff Head]

AH-1Z SUPER-DUPER COBRA

[Jeff Head]

More pics ...

Quite the weapons loadout capability

The AH-1Z (along with the Comanche and a number of other upcoming weapons systems) figures heavily into my series of novels about a future World War III that develops out of existing cirumstances.

DRAGON'S FURY - BREATH OF FIRE

Regards.

[swarthyguy]

You may find this site of some interest; then again, maybe not...

[Jeff Head]

The Russians have built and exported some fantastic helicopters.

Here's one of the latest:

KA-50 Black Shark

LTE'S NOT FORGET THE US WILD APACHES OR CAMANCHES EITHER:
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AH-64 Longbow Apache




RAH-66 Comanche is 4 times more stealthy and 6 times quieter than the Apache

[swarthyguy]

Love the looks of that Comanche; That Sharksiye looks pretty mean too. Thanks for the posting...GreatPix.

[Jeff Head]

Cobra, Kiowa, Apache, Comanche, Hind, Havoc, Hokum ...

Hueys, Black Hawks, Hips ...

Some serious helo technology conitues to develop. The Hokum does look mean and nasty though doesn't it?

[swarthyguy]

Civvy Alert:: What's a hokum?

[Jeff Head]

The Black Hawks are pretty good in that regard and the new uh-1Y Huey may be an improvement over the original ... but we really don't have a troop carrier as armored up as the Hind ... or the Hip for that matter.

Here's one of my favorite pics of the armed Hip (Mi-8Tv)

[Jeff Head]

That's the NATO designation for the Ka-50.

[swarthyguy]

Well Whatever the merits/demerits of US/Russian helos, Russian HW requires less maintenance and a less intricate supply/maintenance chain at a price substantially less the US equipment( US being technologically superior). Looks that may be changing, however, if the Injans are look to Bell for future purchases....

[Jeff Head]

You are right. High tech is great ... but against a highly committed foe who has numbers, and is willing to spend those numbers ... the high tech opponent better have a fall back when he runs out of high tech war shots. As the saying goes (or something very close):

"Quantity generates a quality all its own"

I believe the US has the ability to do both, but we have been defficient in the back-up for some time now ... and it's dangerous.

My book series, DRAGON'S FURY - BREATH OF FIRE goes over this in some detail.

BTW, I like this Indian picture of the Hip from that site you linked to above.

[swarthyguy]

I also like the one of the chopper between 2 mountains! The first one listed on that page.

[toddst]

Thanks for the post & pics. You and Jeff are more knowledgeable about helos than I. Who developed the Mi-17 shown?

[toddst]

Thanks Jeff. I like the pics and the full name - "AH-1Z SUPER-DUPER COBRA." Looks like Bell is selling essentially an existing airframe with a high-performance engine and blade system. If it can perform to the altitudes the Indians want, they have a great export product IMHO.

I'll be looking through your book as soon as time allows. What I've read holds my interest! Clearly you've worked hard on this.

[Jeff Head]

Well, "Super-Duper" is not the official name ... that's my add on. it's actually called the Viper.

The Mi-17 is the export version of the Russian Mi-8 Hip.

I look foreward to your getting the book ... I don't believe you will be sorry. It's a goood read ... of course I would think so.

I will BUMP one of the Freeper reviews that's been written FYI.

[swarthyguy]

Just a helo fan; not particularly knowledgeable @ all.