Specialized attack helicopters appeared in the second half of the 60s of the XX century as a response to the growing saturation of the ground forces with various types of armored vehicles, primarily tanks. And today, the fight against armored vehicles is one of the main tasks of this class of front-line aviation, along with direct support of ground forces on the battlefield and reconnaissance. All the most powerful and modern armies in the world today are armed with these aerial «tank destroyers».
At the same time, the expression that helicopters are the souls of dead tanks fits perfectly with attack helicopters. In the air, they play the role assigned to tanks on the ground. For its successful implementation, attack (or assault) helicopters have relatively reliable armor for flying equipment and strong weapons. As a rule, the role of such is played by rapid-fire automatic guns and heavy machine guns, as well as a different combination of guided and unguided air-to-ground missiles. Air-to-air missiles can also be installed as auxiliary weapons on attack helicopters to combat their own kind (and aircraft).
If the background of the photos interferes with the reading of the captions, you can hover the mouse cursor over the text — this will darken the background of the caption.
Bell AH-1 Cobra and a twin-engine version Bell AH-1 Super Cobra (photo), USA. First flight in 1965. About 2,400 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Crew 2 people (Cobra / SuperCobra), Max. takeoff weight 4310/4540 kg, engine power 1100/1800 hp, maximum speed 315/352 km / h, rate of climb 6.3 / 5.5 m / s. Service ceiling 3475/3215 m. airliners.net
Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, USA Attack helicopter-rotorcraft with a pushing propeller. First flight in 1967. A batch of 10 vehicles was built, not accepted for service. Crew 2 people, Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 740 kg, engine power 3925 hp, maximum speed 393 km / h, rate of climb 15,23 m/s. Service ceiling 6100 m. toocatsoriginals.tumblr.com/
Mi-24, USSR. First flight in 1969. 2300-3500 vehicles were produced according to various data. In service with about forty countries. Crew 2 people. (and up to 8 people in the troop compartment), Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 500 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp, maximum speed 335 km / h, rate of climb 10 m/s. Service ceiling 4950 m. russianhelicopters.aero
AH-64 Apache, USA (photo of modification AH-64D Apache Longbow). First flight in 1975. Used by the armed forces of about two dozen states. More than 2000 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 10 433 kg, engine power 2×1690 hp. or 2×1890 hp, maximum speed 365 km / h, rate of climb 12,7 m/s. Service ceiling 6400 m. b-domke.de
Ka-50, Russia. First flight in 1982; the start of operation since 1995. In service in Russia. Built, according to various sources, from 15 to 32 copies. Crew 1 person, Max. takeoff weight 10 800 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp., maximum speed 315 km / h, rate of climb 16 m/s. Service ceiling 5500 m
Mi-28N, Russia. First flight of Mi-28 in 1982, Mi-28N – in 1996. In operation since 2009. About 126 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 700 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp. (on emergency mode 2×2700 hp.), maximum speed 300 km / h, rate of climb 13,6 m/s. Service ceiling 5600 m. airforce.ru
Agusta A129 Mangusta, Italy. First flight in 1983; in operation since 1990-го. It is in service in Italy (60 vehicles) and Turkey (60 vehicles). Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 4600 kg, engine power 2×881 hp., maximum speed 278 km / h, rate of climb 10,2 m/s. Service ceiling 4725 m. aircraftinformation.info
Denel AH-2 Rooivalk, ЮАР. First flight in 1990; adopted in 1999. In service with South Africa. 12 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 8750 kg, engine power 2×1904 hp., maximum speed 309 km / h, rate of climb 13,3 m/s. Service ceiling 6100 m. modernweapon.ru
Eurocopter Tiger, Germany / France. First flight in 1991, in operation since 2002. About 213 vehicles built. In service with Australia, Germany, Spain and France. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 6000 kg, engine power 2×1303 hp., maximum speed 315 km / h (without radar mast; with it – 290 km / h), rate of climb 10,7 m/s. Service ceiling 4000 m
Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. First flight in 1996. 2 vehicles built. Was not adopted for service. Developed as a low-signature reconnaissance and attack helicopter using stealth technology. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 7896 kg, engine power 2×1563 hp., maximum speed 324 km / h, rate of climb 4,55 m/s. Service ceiling 4566 m
Ка-52, Russia. First flight in 1997; in operation since 2011. Produced at least 79 cars. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 12 200 kg, engine power 2×2400 hp. (up to 2700 hp. on emergency mode), maximum speed 350 km / h, rate of climb 12 m/s. Service ceiling 5500 m
CAIC WZ-10, China. First flight in 2003; in operation since 2011. Created with the participation of Russian specialists from the Kamov design bureau. More than 100 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight более 7000 kg, engine power 2×1350 hp., maximum speed более 300 km / h, rate of climb more than 15 m/s. Service ceiling 6400 m. modernweapon.ru
Harbin Z-19, China. First flight in 2010; in operation since 2013. In service with China, built about 80 vehicles. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 4500 kg, engine power 2×940 hp., maximum speed 280 km / h, rate of climb более 9 m/s. Service ceiling 6000 m
HAL LCH, India. First flight in 2010; 3-4 prototypes built. The Indian Armed Forces plan to acquire 179 vehicles designed for operations in high altitude conditions. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight более 5800 kg, engine power 2×1430 hp., maximum speed более 330 km / h, rate of climb более 15 m/s. Service ceiling 6500 m. airliners.net
Specialized attack helicopters appeared in the second half of the 60s of the XX century as a response to the growing saturation of the ground forces with various types of armored vehicles, primarily tanks. And today, the fight against armored vehicles is one of the main tasks of this class of front-line aviation, along with direct support of ground forces on the battlefield and reconnaissance. All the most powerful and modern armies in the world today are armed with these aerial «tank destroyers».
At the same time, the expression that helicopters are the souls of dead tanks fits perfectly with attack helicopters. In the air, they play the role assigned to tanks on the ground. For its successful implementation, attack (or assault) helicopters have relatively reliable armor for flying equipment and strong weapons. As a rule, the role of such is played by rapid-fire automatic guns and heavy machine guns, as well as a different combination of guided and unguided air-to-ground missiles. Air-to-air missiles can also be installed as auxiliary weapons on attack helicopters to combat their own kind (and aircraft).
If the background of the photos interferes with the reading of the captions, you can hover the mouse cursor over the text — this will darken the background of the caption.
Bell AH-1 Cobra and a twin-engine version Bell AH-1 Super Cobra (photo), USA. First flight in 1965. About 2,400 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Crew 2 people (Cobra / SuperCobra), Max. takeoff weight 4310/4540 kg, engine power 1100/1800 hp, maximum speed 315/352 km / h, rate of climb 6.3 / 5.5 m / s. Service ceiling 3475/3215 m. airliners.net
Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, USA Attack helicopter-rotorcraft with a pushing propeller. First flight in 1967. A batch of 10 vehicles was built, not accepted for service. Crew 2 people, Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 740 kg, engine power 3925 hp, maximum speed 393 km / h, rate of climb 15,23 m/s. Service ceiling 6100 m. toocatsoriginals.tumblr.com/
Mi-24, USSR. First flight in 1969. 2300-3500 vehicles were produced according to various data. In service with about forty countries. Crew 2 people. (and up to 8 people in the troop compartment), Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 500 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp, maximum speed 335 km / h, rate of climb 10 m/s. Service ceiling 4950 m. russianhelicopters.aero
AH-64 Apache, USA (photo of modification AH-64D Apache Longbow). First flight in 1975. Used by the armed forces of about two dozen states. More than 2000 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 10 433 kg, engine power 2×1690 hp. or 2×1890 hp, maximum speed 365 km / h, rate of climb 12,7 m/s. Service ceiling 6400 m. b-domke.de
Ka-50, Russia. First flight in 1982; the start of operation since 1995. In service in Russia. Built, according to various sources, from 15 to 32 copies. Crew 1 person, Max. takeoff weight 10 800 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp., maximum speed 315 km / h, rate of climb 16 m/s. Service ceiling 5500 m
Mi-28N, Russia. First flight of Mi-28 in 1982, Mi-28N – in 1996. In operation since 2009. About 126 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 11 700 kg, engine power 2×2200 hp. (on emergency mode 2×2700 hp.), maximum speed 300 km / h, rate of climb 13,6 m/s. Service ceiling 5600 m. airforce.ru
Agusta A129 Mangusta, Italy. First flight in 1983; in operation since 1990-го. It is in service in Italy (60 vehicles) and Turkey (60 vehicles). Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 4600 kg, engine power 2×881 hp., maximum speed 278 km / h, rate of climb 10,2 m/s. Service ceiling 4725 m. aircraftinformation.info
Denel AH-2 Rooivalk, ЮАР. First flight in 1990; adopted in 1999. In service with South Africa. 12 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 8750 kg, engine power 2×1904 hp., maximum speed 309 km / h, rate of climb 13,3 m/s. Service ceiling 6100 m. modernweapon.ru
Eurocopter Tiger, Germany / France. First flight in 1991, in operation since 2002. About 213 vehicles built. In service with Australia, Germany, Spain and France. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 6000 kg, engine power 2×1303 hp., maximum speed 315 km / h (without radar mast; with it – 290 km / h), rate of climb 10,7 m/s. Service ceiling 4000 m
Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. First flight in 1996. 2 vehicles built. Was not adopted for service. Developed as a low-signature reconnaissance and attack helicopter using stealth technology. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 7896 kg, engine power 2×1563 hp., maximum speed 324 km / h, rate of climb 4,55 m/s. Service ceiling 4566 m
Ка-52, Russia. First flight in 1997; in operation since 2011. Produced at least 79 cars. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 12 200 kg, engine power 2×2400 hp. (up to 2700 hp. on emergency mode), maximum speed 350 km / h, rate of climb 12 m/s. Service ceiling 5500 m
CAIC WZ-10, China. First flight in 2003; in operation since 2011. Created with the participation of Russian specialists from the Kamov design bureau. More than 100 vehicles built. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight более 7000 kg, engine power 2×1350 hp., maximum speed более 300 km / h, rate of climb more than 15 m/s. Service ceiling 6400 m. modernweapon.ru
Harbin Z-19, China. First flight in 2010; in operation since 2013. In service with China, built about 80 vehicles. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight 4500 kg, engine power 2×940 hp., maximum speed 280 km / h, rate of climb более 9 m/s. Service ceiling 6000 m
HAL LCH, India. First flight in 2010; 3-4 prototypes built. The Indian Armed Forces plan to acquire 179 vehicles designed for operations in high altitude conditions. Crew 2 people, Max. takeoff weight более 5800 kg, engine power 2×1430 hp., maximum speed более 330 km / h, rate of climb более 15 m/s. Service ceiling 6500 m. airliners.net
