ah-1g cobra (late production)

Us attack helicopter

The ah-1g cobra attack helicopter was developed by company bell as part of the program to create a specialized attack helicopter. In the fall of 1967, it began to be used in vietnam, where demonstrated its high combat qualities

To defeat ground targets, ah-1g helicopters used both built-in weapons:

• a six-barreled machine gun or grenade launcher – suspended
• units of unguided missiles
• suspended machine guns
• and later – a six-barreled 20 mm gun.

Its firepower allowed hitting even armored targets. Over time, the ah-1g received a number of improvements, including measures to counter surface-to-air missiles with thermal guidance

For this, cooling of the engine exhaust gases was used, in addition, a special pipe was installed on the helicopters, which diverted the hot gases upwards, into the plane of rotation of the main rotor. After the end of the war, ah-1g cobra helicopters continued their service in units stationed in western europe