Pakistan wants more AH-1F helicopter gunships from US

[Interceptor]

Pakistan wants more AH-1F helicopter gunships from US


Islamabad, Aug.27 (ANI): Pakistan has requested the United States to provide it more AH-1F helicopter gunships to facilitate its war against the Taliban and other extremist groups based in the lawless tribal region along the Pakistan –Afghanistan border.

Pakistan, which currently uses eight AH-1F helicopter gunships provided to it by US last year, considers the AH-1 as an effective weapon in the fight against the Taliban.

The AH-1F is equipped with three barrel 20mm automatic cannon, and 750 rounds of ammunition. The AH-1F can also carry unguided rockets or Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and has maximum speed of about 270 kilometers per hour, but its specialty is that it can operate in night also.

The Pakistan Air Force already has 20 AH-1S helicopter gunships, but they can operate in day light only, so it wants to upgrade them to AH-1F, strategypage.com reported.

Apart from the AH-1F’s, Islamabad also wants more night vision gear, Hellfire missiles and protective vests for the infantry to keep up their operation against the militants and reduce the number of casualties among the Armed forces. (ANI)

http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/45740.htm

[Imran Khan]

man AH-1F is older then AH-1S this guy don't know even basic facts of cobra's and he is writer in news paper.

[Interceptor]

Yeah the article is using other sources so I thought it might have substance for another procurement of cobra's.

[Solid Beast]

Originally Posted by Imran Khan

man AH-1F is older then AH-1S this guy don't know even basic facts of cobra's and he is writer in news paper.

AH-1F is a heavier upgraded version.

[Muradk]

If we are getting these why go for American Weapons , they put an embargo and thats it no more flying and a helicopter is more complicated than a fighter needs maintenance after every 50 hours.


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[Araz]

Originally Posted by Muradk

If we are getting these why go for American Weapons , they put an embargo and thats it no more flying and a helicopter is more complicated than a fighter needs maintenance after every 50 hours.


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The question is whether we are getting the tigers. As far a I know we have been denied or not shown any interest in Tiger acquisition due to price issues.

[IceCold]

Shouldnt we try something else, something that is more rugged and can take heavy punishment unlike the Cobra's as mentioned by Sir Murad, needs maintainence after every 50 hours.
There was also another report that the cobra's could not fly directly to the tribal areas where militarly operation was going on then and had to make a stop over at peshwar before going on with the operation. Certainly that isnt quick enough for ground troops requiring air support.

[Araz]

Originally Posted by IceCold

Shouldnt we try something else, something that is more rugged and can take heavy punishment unlike the Cobra's as mentioned by Sir Murad, needs maintainence after every 50 hours.
There was also another report that the cobra's could not fly directly to the tribal areas where militarly operation was going on then and had to make a stop over at peshwar before going on with the operation. Certainly that isnt quick enough for ground troops requiring air support.

I am not so great on Helos, so feel free to educate an old man. If I remember correctly , there are'nt very many options available in the short term. The Chinese are having engine issues and even if they were to be resolved, we will have to wait for them to fulfill their own requirements .Rooviak is dead. Tiger is too expensive,We could go for armed MI17s but who will sell it to us. Mangusta is again out of our reach. Even looking for a turkish venture we will not get anything before 2015-17.So I am at a losss to see what we should get other than Cobras in the short /intermediate terms.Mind you a new platform will have training and maintenance issues as well.
WaSalam
Araz

[IceCold]

Originally Posted by Araz

I am not so great on Helos, so feel free to educate an old man. If I remember correctly , there are'nt very many options available in the short term. The Chinese are having engine issues and even if they were to be resolved, we will have to wait for them to fulfill their own requirements .Rooviak is dead. Tiger is too expensive,We could go for armed MI17s but who will sell it to us. Mangusta is again out of our reach. Even looking for a turkish venture we will not get anything before 2015-17.So I am at a losss to see what we should get other than Cobras in the short /intermediate terms.Mind you a new platform will have training and maintenance issues as well.
WaSalam
Araz

Well sir i wont argue over what you said however i am lost here, if we are fighting a war what should be our objective money or lives of our solider. If you choose second option, pray tell me how exactly does cobra's help when they cant even reach there destination in one go add sanctions and lack of spares to the equation and you will see where am i coming from.