Attack Helicopters
Modern day helicopters probably originated from concept drawings of ornithopter flying machine by Italian inventor Leonardo Da Vinci , made during the mid 1500’s.
During 1784, French inventors Launoy and Bienvenue, in 1784, created a prototype with a rotary-wing that could lift itself and fly. Modern day helicopters are probably evolved from that. On larger scale, Paul Cornu was the first to attempt flight in a helicopter in 1907, however, that flight was not successful. In 1924, French inventor, Etienne Oehmichen was the first one to fly a helicopter just over 300 feet.
The modern-day helicopters are wonderful and sophisticated flying machines and have evolved a lot has come a long way from the early days. Attack helicopters are specialized a military helicopter with a primary role of engaging targets on the ground like enemy infantry and armoured vehicles.
Military attackare also called gunships because of their vast collections of guns like auto cannons, machine-guns, rockets and guided missiles etc.. Many of them carry air-to-air missiles and air to surface missiles for attack and self-protection.
The role of the attack helicopters are expanded these days and they are extensively being used to provide direct and accurate air support for ground troops for covert military operations and to provide anti-tank support. It is popularly believed that the attack helicopters destroy 17 times its own production cost before they get destroyed.
The following are our favorite helicopters:
AH-64D Apache Long Bow
The Boeing AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter was the dominant and most powerful anti-armour weapon system applied during the Gulf War. It is designed to carry out combat missions day or night and in adverse weather. The Apache is equipped with state of the art and sophisticated technology and fire control systems.
The AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine combat helicopter with tandem cockpit suitable for two. The AH-64 is fitted with a nose-mounted sensor unit suitable for target acquisition and night vision systems. Its massive firepower includes a 30-millimeter (1.2 in) M230 Chain Gun attached between the main landing gear. The AH-64 also carries a combination of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rocket pods attached on stub-wing pylons. It also features multiple redundant aircraft survival systems against crash and damage.
It is powered by two high-performance turbo shaft engines which provides a maximum cruise speed of 284 kph
EuroCopter Tiger (EC 655)
The Eurocopter Tiger is manufactured by Eurocopter Company. Initially, the Eurocopter Tiger was jointly developed by France and Germany. This chopper is powered by two MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines.
The Eurocopter Tiger is a highly sophisticated attach machine created from 80% carbon fibre reinforced polymer which contains Kevlar, 11% aluminium, and 6% titanium. This makes it absolutely light weight and bullet proof. The rotors are made from fiber-plastic which enables it to withstand heavy damage and direct hit from ground attacks. Protection against lightning and electromagnetic pulse has been provided via its embedded copper/bronze grid and copper bonding foil. This makes it an all-weather combat machine.
The combat helicopter is installed with AN/AAR-60 MILDS System for radar warning, a laser warning system, and a missile launch/approach detector developed by EADSDE. All these gadgets are connected to a central processing unit and is the heart of this combat machine. This gunship is fitted with a chin-mounted 30 mm gun turret and able to carry 68 mm SNEB unguided rockets or 20 mm machine cannons and Mistral air-to-air missiles. For self-defence, it carries radar/laser/missile launch/missile approach warning receivers and decoy launchers. This gunship is available in attack and fire support (escort) configurations. The attack version includes Trigat or HOT 3 anti-tank missiles and unguided rockets apart from Stinger air-to-air missiles. Escort version is fitted with a 30 mm cannon.
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