Ever wanted to know what an attack helicopter is? Ever wondered how they work, what they’re capable of, and why they’re so awesome? Well you’ve come to the right place. Here I’ll be talking about attack helicopters in depth, going into the history, current capabilities, and future of these amazing vehicles.
Attack helicopters are a type of military helicopter that are designed to engage enemy ground targets. These missions are typically known as gunship missions, as most attack helicopters use their guns as their primary weapon system. Early models were armed with rockets and machine guns; modern attack helicopters have guided missiles and cannon systems that make them far more effective than their predecessors.
Attack helicopters are one of the most versatile weapon systems within a military’s arsenal. They can be used for scouting and reconnaissance, or for engaging enemy ground targets such as air defense emitters, armor formations, or infantry units. While attack helicopters aren’t quite as fast as fighters or bombers (they have to be able to hover), they can operate at high altitudes where conventional aircraft would have difficulty breathing the thin air.
Attack helicopters are often grouped into squadrons (groups) within a military’s forces. These squadrons typically consist of four to eight attack helicopters each led by a squadron leader. Each
Attack helicopters are among the most versatile, dependable and effective air assets available to the modern battlefield commander. They can be deployed in a wide variety of roles, including close air support (CAS), anti-tank warfare, reconnaissance, escort for ground forces and helicopter assault.
Their speed and maneuverability make them effective against fixed-wing aircraft as well as ground targets. However, attack helicopters are extremely vulnerable to enemy fire from the ground. They must operate near their bases or in heavily defended airspace in order to ensure their own survival. This vulnerability is one of the main reasons why attack helicopters are rarely deployed in large numbers by modern militaries.[1]
The first attack helicopter was developed during the Korean War by a U.S. Army pilot named Frank Kappler, who began work on a helicopter capable of firing rockets at enemy tanks.[2] The resulting aircraft was called the Bell H-13 Sioux and entered service with the U.S. Army in 1953.[3]
The United States soon began developing more advanced helicopter designs with better firepower and more armor protection, such as the AH-1 Cobra and AH-64 Apache. These helicopters were capable of engaging multiple targets at once with devastating results, but they were also extremely expensive to produce.[4]
Let’s begin with the basics – the Su-25 is a very heavily armored, twin-engine, single-seat strike aircraft that was built to be extremely rugged and survivable. It is similar in concept to the A-10 Warthog – a low flying, heavily armed and armored aircraft designed for close air support and battlefield interdiction. The Flanker, as it is called by NATO forces, was designed around a large 30mm cannon that can fire up to 1,000 rounds per minute. It has eight hardpoints under its wings and fuselage with a combined maximum payload of over 10,000 pounds. Outwardly it looks like a cross between an A-10 and an F/A-18 Hornet. While not intended to be a dogfighter, it does have short range air-to-air missiles for self defense.
If you’re looking at the picture above and wondering what that huge gun barrel on the right side of the cockpit is for, you might be surprised to learn that it isn’t actually a gun at all. Instead it is an infrared countermeasures system that uses flares to confuse incoming heat seeking missiles. This is important because the Su-25 doesn’t have an onboard radar warning receiver (RWR) or
The Sukhoi Su-33 (Flanker D) and it’s naval variant the Su-33 (Flanker K) are supersonic carrier-based air superiority fighter aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. The aircraft is designed to engage the enemy air forces in the air and on the ground, as well as ships at sea.
The main feature of this fighter is a variable geometry wing that allows a wide range of attack angles, which guarantees high maneuverability. When folded, the wing allows for more space on the deck of an aircraft carrier. The variable geometry also enables a pilot to choose a particular mode for specific combat conditions: maximum lift during takeoff and landing, extra speed during air-to-air engagements or increased maneuverability during close range dogfights.
Another distinctive feature is a reduced heat signature achieved through an advanced engine configuration and thrust vectoring. In addition to that, infrared decoys can be used to confuse enemy missiles launched from behind or above the Flanker.
The Su-33 is designed with several other sophisticated systems like a fly-by-wire system, advanced weapons control system and terrain following radar which help pilots to be more effective in all conditions.
The Flanker can carry an enormous amount
The Su-27 Flanker is a large, fast and heavily armed fighter. The Flanker is the mainstay of the Russian Air Force (VVS) fleet, and the primary threat to Western air forces. The Su-27 was designed to counter the F-15 Eagle, and in many ways it is extremely similar to its American counterpart. Both are single seat, twin engine fighters with advanced avionics, long range and heavy armament.
The Su-27 is slightly larger than the F-15, but has a lower wing loading and thrust to weight ratio making it more manoeuvrable in dogfights. The early design of the Flanker was based around ground attack missions, but later variants were improved for aerial combat. The latest versions are capable of supermanoeuvres which enable them to outturn most other fighters.
Two hundred thirty four Flankers were exported overseas for use by countries including China, India and Ukraine. Around 700 remain in service with Russia’s VVS (Air Force), VVS RF (strategic aviation), PVO (air defence) and Frontal Aviation (long range bombers).
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