Best-10 Attacking Helicopters in the World (Part-1)

Helicopter is the most effective source used for logistics, wars and rescue purposes these days. From their first appearance in World War II, through the Vietnam War and to the modern day, helicopters have helped to transform the battlefield.

The design and technology continue to be developed for improving helicopter, during the last 50 years no less than 1,600 helicopter models have been made in the world. With all its advantages and disadvantages, so the following I will discuss 10 of the World's best attacking helicopters that ever made. Each are rated on their avionics, agility, speed & firepower capabilities. Here are the 1st section of Best 10 attacking helicopters in the world,

10. Z-10

The Z-10 is the new Chinese attack helicopter. It's development began in the mid-1990s. Prototype of the Z-10 made it's maiden flight in 2003. It seems that initial production gunships were delivered to the Chinese army in 2009-2010. It is the first dedicated modern Chinese attack helicopter. It has been designed with extensive technical assistance from Eurocopter and Augusta. Other sources claim that development of the Z-10 has been assisted by Russian Kamov helicopter design bureau.

People's Liberation Army's Z-10 Attack Helicopter. (Picture from: http://chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com/)

The Z-10 helicopter has a standard gunship configuration with a narrow fuselage and stepped tandem cockpits. Gunner is seated at the front and the pilot is at the rear. Weapons of the Z-10 may consist of 30-mm cannon, HJ-9 anti-tank guided missiles (comparable to the TOW-2A), newly developed HJ-10 anti-tank missiles (comparable to the AGM-114 Hellfire) and TY-90 air-to-air missiles. It can also carry unoperated rocket pods.

9. Mi-24 Hind

The Mi-24 Hind, the first helicopter to enter service with the Russian Air Force as an assault transport and gunship, was developed on the basis of the Mi-8's propulsion system. Additional missions include direct air support, antitank, armed escort, and air to air combat. The helicopter was used extensively in the Afghanistan War, becoming the "signature" weapon of the conflict. The Mi-24 is a close counterpart to the American AH-64 Apache, but unlike this and other Western assault helicopters it is also capable of transporting up to eight troops. The Russians have deployed significant numbers of HINDs in Europe and have exported the HIND to many third world countries.

Russian Air Force Mi-24 "Hind". (Picture from: http://www.realitymod.com/)

External stores are mounted on underwing external stores points. Each wing has three hardpoints for a total of six stations. A representative mix when targeting armor formations would be eight AT-6 ATGMs, 750x 30-mm rounds, and two 57-mm rocket pods. The aircraft can store an additional ammunition basic load in the cargo compartment in lieu of carrying troops. Armored cockpits and titanium rotor head able to withstand 20-mm cannon hits. Every aircraft has an overpressurization system for operation in a NBC environment.

8. Denel AH-2 Rooivalk

The Denel AH-2 Rooivalk is an attack helicopter manufactured by Denel of South Africa. Rooivalk is Afrikaans for 'Red Kestrel'. The South African air forces operate only 12 Denel AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopters. Although it looks like an entirely new machine, the Rooivalk is based on a degree of reverse engineering of the Aerospatiale Puma, using the same engines and main rotor.

South African AIr Force Denel AH-2 Rooivalk. (Picture from: http://www.airliners.net/)

The helicopter's armament include 1 x 20-mm Armscor cannon, 4 x four-round launchers for TOW or Denel ZT-6 Mokopa anti-tank missiles, provision for air-to-air missiles and other launchers with 70-mm unoperated rockets in place of the missiles.

7. AH-1W Super Cobra

The AH-1W Super Cobra is a day/night marginal weather Marine Corps attack helicopter that provides enroute escort for our assault helicopters and their embarked forces. The AH-1W is a two-place, tandem-seat, twin-engine helicopter capable of land- or sea-based operations. The AH-1W provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore. It is supplied by Bell Helicopter Textron. The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra based on the US Army’s AH-1 Cobra. The twin Cobra family includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra.

US-Navy AH-1W Super Cobra. (Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/)

Its armament including, One 20 mm turreted cannon with 750 rounds, four external wing stations that can fire 2.75"/5.0" rockets and a wide variety of precision guided missiles, to include TOW/Hellfire (point target/anti-armor), Sidewinder (anti-air) Sidearm (anti-radar).

6. A129 Mangusta

The A129 Mangusta is an attack helicopter originally designed and produced by Agusta in Italy. It was the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Western Europe. The TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK is a derivative version of the A129, and its development is the responsibility of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), with AgustaWestland as the primary partner.

Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) Agusta A129 Mangusta. (Picture from: http://www.army-technology.com/)

The A129 can be used in the anti-armour, armed reconnaissance, ground attack, escort, fire support and anti-aircraft roles. In the anti-armour role, the helicopter can carry either Hellfire, TOW or Spike-ER missiles, or a mix of them and has a three-barrel 20 mm cannon in a turret mounted under its nose. (Jump to Part-2.) *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FAS | MILITARY FACTORY | ABOUT.COM US MILITARY | MILITARY-TODAY | ARMY-TECHNOLOGY | WIKIPEDIA]

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