Upgraded Old Cobra Gunships Offer Big Capabilities Without The Price Tag

[Daryl Hunt]

This bird just won't quit.

Upgraded Old Cobra Gunships Offer Big Capabilities Without The Price TagDrastically Upgraded Old Cobra Gunships Offer Big Capabilities Without The Price Tag
Jordan is in the process of upgrading some of its AH-1F Cobra gunship helicopters to a new standard that incorporates many features similar, or outright identical, to those on the latest AH-1Z model. The update package could potentially serve as a model for other countries looking to upgrade their existing AH-1s or for military forces considering buying Cobras for the first time on the growing secondary market.

The Jordanian Air Force displayed one of the modified helicopters during the country’s biennial Special Operations Forces Exhibition, or SOFEX, which took place at Marka Airport in the capital Amman in May 2018. According to a report from Aviation International News, Jordan has taken delivery of two of the updated gunships from American contractor Science & Engineering Services (SES) for training purposes, but they will have to go back to the United States for additional live-fire testing.

ordan is looking to upgrade 12 AH-1Fs in total, but it has a number of additional E and F models in service, including 16 it acquired from Israel in 2015, that it could put through the update program if it chose to do so. We have reached out SES for additional information, but at the time of writing we had not yet heard back about our queries.

However many helicopters the Jordanian Air Force eventually decides to upgrade, they will be significantly more capable than they had been in their previous configurations. The new versions will feature an Integrated Avionics System from Northrop Grumman that is the same as the one found on the latest new production twin-engine AH-1Z Zulu Cobras, also known as Vipers, from Bell.

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

 

[mudwhistle]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

 

[mudwhistle]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

Republicans have lost every time they were in power since WWII also, ex: Bush went into Iraq and well, it's still not over and we don't look like we're winning either.

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

 

[cnm]

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay.

Hilarity. As though the Governments in Iraq and Afghanistan had invited you.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

Republicans have lost every time they were in power since WWII also, ex: Bush went into Iraq and well, it's still not over and we don't look like we're winning either.

This is NOT about petty Politics. it's about refurbishing a fine old War Bird and keeping it in service.

 

[miketx]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

WMD were found, liar.

 

[Taz]

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

Republicans have lost every time they were in power since WWII also, ex: Bush went into Iraq and well, it's still not over and we don't look like we're winning either.

This is NOT about petty Politics. it's about refurbishing a fine old War Bird and keeping it in service.

That chopper isn’t helping us win. How’s that?

 

[Taz]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

WMD were found, liar.

No they weren’t, but if you have a link, I’ll check it out.

 

[miketx]

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

WMD were found, liar.

No they weren’t, but if you have a link, I’ll check it out.

Right, you turds do nothing but ask for proof and then still deny it. Several wmd were found.

 

[Taz]

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

WMD were found, liar.

No they weren’t, but if you have a link, I’ll check it out.

Right, you turds do nothing but ask for proof and then still deny it. Several wmd were found.

Then you should be able to find a proper link to that. I’ll wait.

 

[Syriusly]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

Hmmmm lets see what party was in charge during World War 2?

Oh wait- the Democrats........

 

[Syriusly]

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

We haven't declared war since WWII.

Still haven’t beaten anyone since WWII.

Democrats don't like to win wars. Ask them about it. If we declared a war it changes everything.

Republicans have lost every time they were in power since WWII also, ex: Bush went into Iraq and well, it's still not over and we don't look like we're winning either.

This is NOT about petty Politics. it's about refurbishing a fine old War Bird and keeping it in service.

True- but this is USMB.

Thanks for the article- it is fascinating.

Are they using old airframes or contemplating manufacturing new ones based upon the old airframe designs?

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Ya, we can't keep losing wars without them.

Iraq and Afghanistan are not our war to win nor lose. As long as the Goverments n place there want us there, we will stay. But the second we are asked to leave, we are out of there. DS1 and 2 was ours to win or lose and we kicked butt. Not today. We are in more of a support role as it should be. If Iraq and Afghanistan can't fight their own battles then we shouldn't be fighting all their battles ourselves.

We haven't won a war since WWII (including Iraq and Afghanistan), and even then we need help from our allies.

The mark of winning a war is to meet or exceed your end results. And during DS1 and 2 we did exactly that. Our objective in DS1 was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait. Our objective in DS2 was to capture and bring Saddam to justice. Both objectives were met. The problem was, after DS2, we had no clear well thought out objectives and screwed the pooch.

it's pretty sad when you have to call DS1 & 2 wins. DS1 didn't accomplish much as DS2 was needed, and DS2 was a total failure as it was to find WMDs, of which there were none.

WMD were found, liar.

What was found was canisters that once had held chemicals. They had been buried. And that was about it. I believe that Saddam actually thought he had all that stuff. In the end, he didn't.