NOTE: You really have to call into question the continued service of the UH-1Y with the emphasis on extremely long range strikes from over the horizon. A combat radius that is longer than legacy models but still relatively short...all of which negatively affects loiter time, means that the USMC is basically rendering a brand new helicopter obsolete by the emphasis of a doctrine that seeks to favor the MV-22. The same applies to the AH-1Z. The emphasis on range affects more than the AAV and ship to shore connectors. It will also affect the air wing in ways that haven't yet been considered. If the Corps follows through with the SPMAGTF-CR concept then we can effectively do away with at least half of our UH-1Y/AH-1Z force.
On a sidenote, are the AH-1Z and the UH-1Y actually being marketed to foreign customers ?
ReplyDeleteFrom what i understand they are cheaper than AH-64 and UH-60.
every comp the AH-1Z loses out to the AH-64. as far as the UH-1Y is concerned, i don't understand how it fits in the market place. its not a real competitor to the UH-60 but its being used as such by the USMC. ...
DeleteWhen did 26 million be come cheaper then 21? (H-60/H-1Y) And the UH-60 combat radius is 320 nm vs 130 nm for H-1Y.
DeleteThe AH-1Z is 4 million cheaper then the AH-64E, but the combat range is 125 nm vs 250 nm for the AH-64.
If you read some of the competition reports, one of the dings is the skids. Most users do not want them, you cannot land and taxi, or push/tow without having to bring wheels from somewhere.
The Apache is slower at 182 mph vs 255mph for the AH-1Z which is closer to the Osprey's 277mph cruise speed (numbers from Wikipedia). Maybe that decision drove buying Zulus instead of Apaches.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Yankee Huey version, aren't they mostly for command and control and usually used in a mixed section to provide an airborne FAC?
The AH-1 had a 75% successful kill rate in Desert Storm above the Apache by a large margin. I chalk that up to being a known aircraft and with then super weapons tried and true as opposed to a new system.
ReplyDeleteThe son's outfit flew UH-1 and the AH-1 in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As Light Attack goes it was able.
Now, who knows what is able.
Reports are, MANPAD weapons surround Baghdad's perimeter now all inside an good lethal engagement range..
Are all UH-1 fitted with those rocket pods?
ReplyDeleteDoesnt that make egress for the troops rather difficult?
the only time i've seen Hueys used is in command and control. it seems now that Recon is using them quite a bit but this is the one platform that is either extremely flexible or has no clearly defined mission. everything else does. MV-22 is the troop hauler. CH-53 is the cargo bird. AH-1Z is the attack. only the UH-1Y is a jack of all trades master of none. but to answer your question it all depends on the mission i guess. i do know its easier to slide around pods than it is some door gunner.
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