The US Marine Corps is working to widen the range of weapons available to the upgraded Bell AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter, including the radar-guided Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire anti-tank missile.

Plans call for the AH-1Z to carry up to 16 laser-guided AGM-114A missiles. The helicopter will be fitted with the Lockheed Martin Target Sight System, incorporating a new 3-5µm forward looking infrared (FLIR) imager and laser targeting. There are no plans to install the Longbow millimetre wave fire control radar. "We are building in the growth capacity to carry the Longbow Hellfire so we can accept third party targeting," says Capt Tom Curtis, H-1 programme manager.

Provision is being made for the Raytheon AGM-65D Maverick air-to surface missile, the improved laser-guided AGM-114K Hellfire 2, Stinger and eventually the AIM-9X air-to-air missiles. "We have a growth path for that missile and we could integrate it, but it's not part of this development," says Curtis.

The AH-1Z will be fitted with new stub wings incorporating two additional hardpoints, as well as tip launchers for the existing AIM-9L. Aside from Hellfire, the helicopter will initially be cleared to carry 19- round LAU-61 70mm (2.72in) rocket launchers or seven round LAU-68 pods. The stub wings will incorporate 190 litre (50USgal) internal fuel bladders and can four external 292 litre ferry tanks.

Initial testing has begun of the new Integrated Helmet Display and Sighting System being developed by Marconi Electronic Systems from its Viper 2 helmet. The helmet uses two image intensified cameras in place of night vision goggles to generate a wider 40° horizontal and 30° vertical field of view. It also displays head-up flight guidance.

The USMC hopes to add television and FLIR imaging capability to the helmet. "If we can figure out the scaling problem we can put it over the same image. If we can't do that, we could go for a picture-in-picture arrangement with the FLIR image in a box," says Curtis.

Bell is to begin test flying the first of three remanufactured AH-IZ and two UH-1Y test helicopters in October next year.

Source: Flight International