AH-1Z Viper

AH-1Z Viper (Attack helicopter) – 28

Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter

First flight: 8 December 2000

Introduction: September 2010

Number built: 28

Number planned: 189

Unit cost:

$27 million (upgrading AH-1W)

$31 million (new built)

Developed from: Bell AH-1 Super Cobra

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot/gunner)

Capacity: 3,021 kg

Length: 17.8 m

Rotor diameter: 14.6 m

Height: 4.37 m

Disc area: 168.0 m²

Empty weight: 5,580 kg

Useful load: 2,620 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 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: 411 km/h in a dive

Cruise speed: 296 km/h

Range: 685 km

Combat radius: 231 km with 1,130 kg payload

Service ceiling: 6,000+ m

Rate of climb: 14.2 m/s

Armament

Guns: 1x 20 mm 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: 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 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles – Up to 16 missiles mounted in four 4-round M272 missile launchers, 2 on each wing

Avionics

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