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2023-08-09

Attack Helicopters: The Dominance of the Skies

In the previous issue, we highlighted how military helicopters are categorised into light, medium, and heavy classes based on factors like size, weight, payload capacity, and operational roles. Military helicopters are also classified into several types based on their roles and capabilities.

In this issue, we focus on Attack Helicopters, which play a crucial part in providing direct fire support to ground forces and conducting offensive operations.

Lethal Guardians

Attack helicopters are elite rotorcraft in the military, designed to engage and obliterate enemy targets. Their primary role is to offer immediate firepower assistance to troops on the ground and carry out aggressive manoeuvres. Equipped with advanced weaponry and avionics, they neutralise armoured vehicles, enemy positions, and threats on the ground and in the air.

These helicopters boast lethal and precise weapons, such as guided missiles, cannons, rockets, and machine guns. They can accurately engage targets from various angles and distances, even during manoeuvres. Advanced targeting systems and sensors enable the crew to detect and engage multiple targets simultaneously, maximising their combat effectiveness.

They are meticulously designed to enhance survivability in hostile environments. They incorporate armour protection, electronic countermeasures, and self-defence systems to detect and evade threats like surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft fire.

They can operate in different weather conditions and terrains, providing flexibility to support ground forces in various scenarios.

These helicopters are usually operated by highly trained and skilled aircrew that undergo extensive training to master the tactics, techniques, and procedures required for effective attack operations. They work diligently with ground forces, providing close air support and conducting reconnaissance missions to gather real-time battlefield intelligence.

There are several types of attack helicopters, each possessing distinctive features and capabilities.

Here are some of the prominent types utilised by the world powers:

Dedicated Attack Helicopters

Dedicated attack helicopters excel in combat and offensive operations, boasting heavy armament, advanced sensors, targeting systems, and the ability to engage both ground and air targets.

Among the few notable examples are:
AH-64 Apache

The AH-64 Apache is an extensively used attack helicopter. It features a tandem seating arrangement for the pilot and gunner, advanced avionics, and a wide array of weapons, including Hellfire anti-tank missiles, rockets, and a 30mm chain gun.

From the AH-64A in 1984 to today’s AH-64E, one thing about the Apache hasn’t changed: its reputation as the world’s most advanced and proven attack helicopter.

The AH-64, serving as the backbone of the U.S. Army’s attack helicopter fleet and adopted by an increasing number of international defence forces, has amassed over five million flight hours and more than 1.3 million of those in combat, with a total of over 1,280 aircraft currently in operation.

The AH-64E Apache Guardian is an upgraded variant of the AH-64 Apache. It features improved sensors, communication systems, and more powerful engines. The Guardian variant is operated by numerous international partners of the United States.

The AH-64E will continue production until 2028, serving as the world’s primary attack helicopter into the 2060s for the U.S. Army and partner nations. With ongoing investments in advanced technologies, the Apache brings affordable Modular Open Systems Architecture capability, making it a centerpiece in the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) battlefield for the foreseeable future.

A network-centric, fully integrated weapon system specifically built to dominate in highly contested and complex battle space, the AH-64E Version 6, or v6, Apache includes multiple enhancements to the aircraft’s sensors, software and weapons performance.

Since its initial delivery in January 1984, Boeing has supplied over 2,700 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to the U.S. Army and various nations worldwide.

Bell AH-1Z Viper

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is the only attack helicopter in the world with fully integrated air-to-air missile (AAM) capabilities. Equipped with six weapon stations, the Viper can carry a diverse weapons load, ranging from AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM), and a variety of laser-guided and conventional rockets.

With AAM and JAGM assets, the Viper gives warfighters the lethal airborne advantage with operational flexibility needed in diverse terrain and missions.

The AH-1Z sees you before you see it. The Target Sight System (TSS) allows operators to distinguish friend from foe at standoff range. Rain or shine, day or night — the third-generation TSS, coupled with the Optimized Top Owl Helmet Mounted Display System, provides essential long range target identification and accuracy for lethal strike capabilities at an optimal standoff range.

As the only marinised attack helicopter, at the point of manufacture, engineered to withstand the world’s harshest maritime environments, it was purpose-built to meet U.S. Marine Corps specifications to ensure mission success during shipboard operations.

Agusta A129 Mangusta

The Agusta A129 Mangusta is an Italian attack helicopter specifically designed for anti-armour and close air support missions. It boasts advanced avionics, anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles, rockets, and a 20mm gun.

Conceived in response to an Italian Army requirement of the mid-1970s, the A-129 Mangusta (mongoose) was the first dedicated attack helicopter to be designed, built and deployed by a European country.

It was also the first in the world to be built around an advanced MIL-STD 1553B digital databus that automated many tasks and reduced crew workload.

Its official maiden flight occurred on September 15, 1983 at Cascina Costa, following two previous flights on September 11 and 13.

The original Italian requirement had been for 100 Mangustas in distinct anti-tank and scout versions, but as the threat of all-out war in Europe receded, the final order was cut back to 60 A-129s. A total of 45 A-129s were delivered to Aviazone Escercito (Italian army aviation) between 1990 and 1992, when production was stopped.

The official Italian army designation of this helicopter is AH-129.

The Italian A-129 is significantly less capable than a contemporary U.S. AH-64 Apache, AH-1W Super Cobra, or Russian Ka-50 or Mi-28 attack helicopters.

The A-129 International was developed by Agusta to address changing operational needs and funding challenges. It features upgrades such as an undernose 20 mm cannon, more powerful engines, and a five-bladed main rotor system. This versatile combat helicopter retains the HeliTOW target acquisition system, providing enhanced capabilities for a range of missions.

The Italian Army began to receive Mangusta in International form in 2002, with Rolls-Royce engines. In 2002 Italian helicopter manufacturers were awarded a contract to upgrade all operational Mangustas to the International standard.

The T-129 is a Turkish-built version of the A-129 attack helicopter. It incorporates indigenous Turkish weapons, avionics, and advanced systems. Developed under a contract between AgustaWestland and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), it features upgraded engines, transmission, and rotor blades.

Z-10ME

The Z-10ME is an upgraded variant of the Chinese Z-10 attack helicopter. It incorporates advanced technologies, improved avionics, and enhanced weapon systems, including anti-tank guided missiles and air-to-air missiles.

The Z-10ME is the most recent version of China’s Z-10 chopper.

China began developing its own attack helicopter in the 1990s. Collaboration with Russian Kamov, Eurocopter, and Agusta has been mentioned, although specific details remain undisclosed.

Russia’s Mi-28NE

The Mi-28NE is a next-generation attack helicopter designed as an air-to-air and air-to-ground partner.

It features a five-blade main rotor, wide weapon-carrying wings, and two turboshaft engines. The fuselage is slender, with tandem cockpits, a belly-mounted cannon, and non-retractable tricycle landing gear.

Due to the energy-absorbing landing gear and seats the crew can survive a vertical fall of up to 12 m/s. It has a fully armoured cabin, including the windshield, which withstands 7.62 and 12.7 mm armour piercing bullets and 20 mm shell fragments.

The Mi-28NE day/night attack helicopter is designed to search and destroy enemy armoured and unarmoured vehicles, manpower and low-speed air targets as well as provide cover and fire support for the troops at any time of day. It is equipped with an integrated avionics suite providing round- the-clock employment of the helicopter and weapons.

The helicopter is fitted with a self-defence system against heat seeker missiles, heavily-armoured cockpit, vital systems and components, and features enhanced survivability.

Its key advantages include precision engagement, all-weather operability, high-altitude capability, basing at up to 4,000m altitudes, round-the-clock capability, protection against missiles, heavy armour, high accuracy with an inertial-satellite navigation system, single-engine flight, and independent operation.

Multi-Role Attack Helicopters

The concept of multi-role helicopters emerged during the Vietnam War but evolved to prioritise dedicated attack helicopters for anti-armour/anti-tank missions. Recent changes in warfare have emphasised non-conventional operations, leading armed forces to seriously consider the use of multi-role helicopters, especially for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations.

Here are a few noteworthy examples in this sector:
Eurocopter Tiger

The Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d’Appui et de Destruction) is a European multi-role attack helicopter employed by various countries. It is equipped for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, performing armed reconnaissance, escort missions, ground fire support, anti-tank warfare, and more.

This helicopter is designed by Airbus to excel in adverse conditions, operating day or night. With its tandem-seat glass cockpit layout, both the pilot in the forward position and the aft-seated gunner can manage the weapon systems and primary flight controls, switching roles if needed.

Each crew member’s pair of multifunction LCD displays is used to display sensor data and information on internal systems, as well as to interact with the aircraft’s systems.

An additional display system is provided with the helmet-mounted display (HMD) — which presents flight and fire data with digitally-enhanced optics to the flying pilot. The Tiger HAD is agile, benefitting from a 13-metre, four-bladed hingeless main rotor. It is powerful, thanks to two enhanced MTR 390 turboshaft engines.

Tiger HAD Block 2 helicopters are also “navalised,” allowing operations from ships and in maritime environments.

NH-90

The NH90 military helicopter is a rotorcraft meticulously crafted to adhere to the rigorous NATO standards. It comes in two variants, namely the tactical transport (TTH) and NATO frigate helicopter (NFH), each equipped with a comprehensive, seamlessly integrated mission system. The NH90 is engineered to excel in the harshest environments, be it on land or at sea, functioning flawlessly under challenging circumstances, irrespective of day or night.

The NH90 NFH is a compact maritime helicopter used as a primary weapon system on surface fleets. It operates from land or warships in all conditions, excelling in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It is also well-equipped for search and rescue missions. Complementary roles at which NFH is extremely effective include maritime surveillance and control, airborne warning control, logistic transport and utility support, vertical replenishment (VERTREP), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and special operations (SpecOps/SOF), including counter terrorism and anti-piracy.

It can be configured with anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and sonobuoys. It can be equipped simultaneously with both an anti-ship missile and a torpedo.

Advanced navigation and ship landing aids enable the helicopter to perform safe landings in day/night and adverse weather conditions, supplemented by a deck lock device for securing the touchdown in high sea states.

Mil Mi-24: NATO Code: HIND

Mil Mi-24 is a two-engine attack helicopter designed for close air support of ground forces against armoured targets, and for transport of personnel.

It has a classic design with a five-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed anti-torque tail rotor. The development of the aircraft commenced in the first half of the 1960s using a dynamical set, drive units and other components from the Mi-8 helicopter.

The first prototype, with late TV2-117 engines, took off in September 1969. The characteristic feature of Mi-24 is a cockpit prolonged to a cargo compartment with a length of 2.83 metres, width of 1.46 m, and height of 1.2 m. Up to eight paratroopers can conduct fire with small arms through openings in side windows.

The helicopter has vertically opened double-wing doors and a wingspan of 6.536 meters. Its wings aid the main rotor’s vertical motion and provide weapon mounting points. It features a three-wheel retractable landing gear and is powered by two TV3-117 engines, each with an output of 1,638 kW.

The Mi-24A (NATO code HIND-A) is the first production version since 1972. The Mi-24D (NATO code HIND-D), introduced in 1976, has a redesigned double-seat cockpit. It features a revolving turret with a four-barrel 12.7 mm machine gun and can carry additional equipment such as missiles, bombs, and rocket launchers.

The Mi-24DU is a training variant without a nose turret. The Mi-24V (NATO code HIND-E) is an upgraded version of the Mi-24D. It features the STURM-V navigation system and is equipped with 9M 114 (AT-6 SPIRAL) anti-tank guided missiles fired from wing-mounted cylinder containers.

Kamov Ka-50/52

The Kamov Ka-50 Hokum and its two-seat variant, the Ka-52 Alligator, are Russian attack helicopters. Known for their coaxial rotor system, they offer exceptional manoeuvrability and carry a diverse range of armament, including guided missiles, rockets, and cannons.

The Ka-52 scout/attack helicopter is designed to destroy enemy tanks, armoured and unarmoured combat materiel, manpower, low-speed air targets in any weather, day or night, as well as provide reconnaissance and target designation for interacting helicopters and command centres of army units.

It is equipped with an integrated avionics suite providing round-the-clock employment of the helicopter and weapons.

Its armament mix includes up to 12 Ataka- or Vikhr-1-type guided anti-tank missiles, up to four Igla air-to-air guided missiles, up to 80 S-8 80mm unguided rockets and a flexible mount with the 30mm 2A42 gun (with 460 rounds).

The helicopter offers exceptional operational capabilities in various conditions, including adverse weather, day and night operations. It demonstrates high manoeuvrability and can operate effectively in high-altitude, hot, and humid environments.

Equipped with precision engagement capabilities against ground and air targets, it ensures round-the-clock operational readiness with its day/night sighting system and onboard radar.

It provides protection against heat-seeking missiles and features a reliable inertial-satellite navigation system for accurate target approach. It has the ability to operate independently and offers ejection capability at different speeds and altitudes.

Utility Helicopters Upgraded to Attack Helicopters

Several Utility Helicopters have undergone upgrades to become Attack Helicopters. Here are a few examples:

UH-60 Black Hawk (Armed Variant)

The Black Hawk multirole helicopter serves with the U.S. military and the armed forces of 34 other countries worldwide as a reliable utility helicopter.

During the last 40 years, this aircraft has fought its way in and out of countless combat zones to deliver and extract troops, save lives as a MEDEVAC or casualty evacuation platform, provide critical supplies to troops, deliver emergency supplies during natural disasters, and perform as an aerial firefighter and border patroller.

The modern variant of the utility aircraft, known as the Armed Helicopter, serves as fire suppression and armed escort for ground troops. It features digital avionics, powerful GE engines, and advanced airframe structures, offering improved survivability, situational awareness, higher altitude capabilities, and increased payload capacity.

More than 4,000 Black Hawk aircraft of all types are in service worldwide today. The U.S. Army is the largest operator with 2,135 H-60 designated aircraft. The same aircraft sold internationally direct from Sikorsky acquires the S-70 designation.

Fully integrated with the aircraft’s digital flight controls, the weapon system calculates the range and the complex ballistics required for pilot gunners to hit targets with high accuracy and reliability from stand-off distances during day and night operations.

Airbus Helicopters H145M

The Airbus Helicopters H145 (formerly Eurocopter EC145) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. Its military version, the H145M offers a wide range of tactical options for battlefield roles.

It offers the crucial capability of delivering troops and materials quickly with minimum delay, can rapidly apply fire power to neutralise or destroy opposing forces, offers support for friendly forces in combat, and is ideal for acquiring information, interpreting and exploiting it.

This high-performance, versatile, rugged and reliable helicopter can be equipped with a large range of equipment and provides outstanding mission flexibility to military operators.

A key feature is the wide range of available optional mission equipment packages that can be rapidly installed and removed, based on the requirements of the mission.

Within minutes, the aircraft can be reconfigured from troop transport with seats to a search and rescue mission with rescue hoist and stretchers, or to an armed helicopter with a set of weapons and ballistic protection.

The H145M’s power, range, endurance and payload capability provide a variety of deployment possibilities, especially when operating in sand and dust and in high and hot conditions at altitudes of 6,000 feet and temperatures of 95°F/35°C.

Warzone Dominators

In conclusion, the attack helicopters mentioned in this article are just a few examples of the many different models and variants that are in service around the world.

Each helicopter type has its own unique capabilities and armament, and the specific systems that are installed can vary depending on the manufacturer and the country’s requirements.

The most recent attack helicopters are the cutting-edge of air-to-ground combat. With advanced technological features and precision firepower, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more powerful and sophisticated attack helicopters in the future. These will play an even greater role in modern warfare, and will help to ensure that armed forces are always prepared to meet the challenges of the battlefield.

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