US delivers Cobra gunship helicopters to Pakistan

[keysersoze]

The report states that the bell 412's will be armed to provide a interim solution. until the A1-Z becomes available . 20 AH-1Z's to be procured.

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VII. 301 (a) (7): An analysis for the suitable replacement for existing Pakistani helicopters, including recommendations for sustainment and training.
Replacement of AH-1F and AH-1S Platforms
Pakistan currently has 32 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. Sustainment of these aircraft is difficult, but possible through commercial channels. Additionally, the U.S. Government will use $75 million in FY 2009 Pakistan Counterinsurgency Funds to update a portion of the existing Cobra fleet. Pakistan will likely seek to replace its current AH-1F and AH-1S Cobras when the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter becomes available for export, probably in 2015.
The AH-1 Cobra continues to be used at a high operational tempo, and Pakistan has a need for more attack helicopters for counter-insurgency missions. In the interim between now and the availability of the AH-1Z, we are implementing a program to arm Pakistan’s existing fleet of 24 Bell 412 helicopters funded by the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund (PCF).
Pakistan Army envisions acquiring 20 AH-1Z Cobras. The total cost of the acquisition will be at least $500 million for the helicopters alone, with a total acquisition cost up to $1 billion. The Pakistani Army will likely seek Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to fund the purchase of these helicopters.
Training and Sustainment
An Aviation Panther Team made up of U.S. and Pakistani rotary wing subject matter experts conducted an extensive review of Pakistani Army Aviation (PAA) needs from Jan-May 2009. The Department of State endorses the recommendations of their report as they relate to training and sustainment. The report analyzed the entire PAA helicopter fleet, but the recommendations are directly applicable to Pakistan’s attack helicopters and are broadly summarized below:
 Pakistan operates too many airframes, some of which have outlived their useful life. Reducing these airframes and maximizing commonality and interoperability is key to improving training and sustainment.
 Pakistan should comprehensively review their training programs with a focus towards producing highly qualified aviators, flight engineers and maintenance personnel in 12 months or less.

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 PAA should continue to utilize all available aviation flight, maintenance and professional development courses offered through the Security Assistance and Training Field Authority.
 Formal aviation maintenance management automation and the associated training are prerequisites for future PAA maintenance and sustainment of a modernized fleet, and should be conducted through formal courses conducted locally and with partner nations.
 Recently retired PAA aviators, flight engineers and maintainers should be actively recruited and returned to service as contractors.
 Reduction of the aircraft fleet, and focus on common, interoperable systems will reduce warehousing and storage requirements, and will increase maintainer efficiency across these systems.
Conclusion
Pakistan will likely maintain its current force of 29 AH-1F Cobra helicopters, supplemented by armed Bell 412 aircraft, until 2015 when the AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter is expected to be available for export customers. Equipping the Pakistan Army with the AH-1Z any earlier than 2015 would require either increased production or diverting AH-1Zs from the USMC. Pakistan Army Aviation Command will continue to make incremental improvements in training and maintenance, partly by means of U.S. Government assistance through FMF, Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund, and other security assistance.

[Neo]

I hope we get them earlier than 2015.

[keysersoze]

May be the case but the 412's will get upgraded in the meantime. probably to the military 412 level.


Military 412: Announced by Bell June 1986; fitted with Lucas Aerospace chin turret and Honeywell Head Tracker helmet sight similar to that in AH-1S; turret carries 875 rounds, weighs 188kg and can be removed in under 30 minutes; firing arcs ±110° in azimuth, +15° and -45° in elevation; other armament includes twin dual FN Herstal 7.62mm gun pods, single FN Herstal 12.7mm pod, pods of seven or nineteen 70mm rockets, M240E1 pintle-mounted door guns, FN Herstal four-round 70mm rocket launcher and a 12.7mm gun or two Giat M621 20mm cannon pods.

[A1Kaid]

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