The AH-1W provides close-in fire support, fire-support coordination, and assault-fire suppression to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore. The aircraft is equipped with a 20mm M197 gun in a nose turret and can carry 2.75" and 5.0" rockets, Hellfire and TOW anti-armor missiles, Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and Sidearm anti-radiation missiles. The Corps is backfitting a Night Targeting System into all of its Super Cobras. That system entails a FLIR, low-light TV, Laser Designator/Range Finder, and an autotrack system installed in the existing M-65 TOW missile sighting system. These improvements would enable the aircraft to carry out its basic missions 24 hours a day. Aircraft are being backfitted at a rate of 2-3 a month, and all AH-1Ws are expected to be backfitted by late 1998. In FY 1994, the AH-1W began a cockpit upgrade designed to reduce pilot workload. By April 1996, at the conclusion of the current restructuring program, each of the six active and two Reserve squadrons will have a mix of 18 AH-1Ws and nine UH-1Ns. During Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, AH-1Ws were involved in three large engagements and numerous return-fire incidents. From all accounts, they performed their missions well. All of the Corps' AH-1Ts have been converted to AH-1Ws, and all AH-1Js retired. Funding for 12 AH-1Ws was included in the FY 1995 budget.
FUSELAGE LENGTH: 45 feet, 5 inches. OVERALL LENGTH: 58 feet. HEIGHT: 13 feet, 7 inches. WEIGHT: maximum takeoff and landing, 14,750 pounds. SPEED: maximum, 190 knots. RANGE: 256 nautical miles. POWER PLANT: two General Electric T-700-GE-401 engines. CREW: one pilot, one copilot/gunner. CONTRACTOR: Bell Helicopter Textron.