Big helicopter deals for Asia

[Randy Daytona]

India goes for Boeing (15 - Chinooks / 22 - Apaches)

http://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-...itary-helicopters-to-india-in-2018-1443536340

while Pakistan chooses Bell. (15 - AH-1Z's)

http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...fire-taliban-tribal-area-waziristan/25409157/

I'll let the attack guys here debate the two gunships - but there does not seem to be any competition for the Chinook in the cargo market. Does anyone use H-53E's other than the US and Japan?

 

[Pags]

Germany and Israel off the top of my head.

 

[Flash]

Germany and Israel off the top of my head.

They CH-53A-D's, not E's.

 

[Pags]

They CH-53A-D's, not E's.

I was just looking that up. Germany flys H-53Gs. Iran also has a few RH-53Ds that they found in the desert.

 

[Hotdogs]

Pakistan should have went with the -64E. The Z basically brings the Marine Corps to AH-64D Block 1 standards from 10-15 years ago minus some additional survivability aspects. The E is more expensive but more capable. I'd take back up fly by wire controls, articulating zone-selectable pods, HMD FLIR, 30mm, APG-78 Longbow radar, ballistically rated canopy, and the ability to auto an aircraft with out a tail rotor any day. It's a nice aircraft but way outside a lot of country's (...and Marine Corps) budget. Not to mention the whole shipboard aspect.

 

[Flash]

I was just looking that up. Germany flys H-53Gs. Iran also has a few RH-53Ds that they found in the desert.

The G's are just the German version of D's. The Iranians did a few of their own before they took possession of a few extras we left them in the desert.

 

[Flash]

Pakistan should have went with the -64E. The Z basically brings the Marine Corps to AH-64D Block 1 standards from 10-15 years ago minus some additional survivability aspects. The E is more expensive but more capable. I'd take back up fly by wire controls, articulating zone-selectable pods, HMD FLIR, 30mm, APG-78 Longbow radar, ballistically rated canopy, and the ability to auto an aircraft with out a tail rotor any day. It's a nice aircraft but way outside a lot of country's (...and Marine Corps) budget. Not to mention the whole shipboard aspect.

Are Cobras easier to maintain? Also, gives them a little commonality with their earlier versions AH-1's.

 

[Hotdogs]

Are Cobras easier to maintain? Also, gives them a little commonality with their earlier versions AH-1's.

Comparatively? It's anyone's guess, that's like comparing the maintenance between F-16s and F/A-18s, too many factors to call it complete apples and oranges. The Whiskey has been solid even though it's been ridden rough through 2 wars in 14 years, but as with any new airframe and drive system the Z is going through some growing pains. The AH-1 Pakistan has right now is essentially the US Army derivative pre-Apache era Cobra from right after Vietnam with additional fire control upgrades. Completely different engine, rotor system, and airframe. There's hardly anything common from the F to the Z except maybe the rockets pods, 3 barrels, turret, and gun drive system from the 20mm. Not to mention the differences in combat radius, payload, and avionics.

 

[joe dirt]

The Z isn't going through any growing pains, I really don't want to fly more than 6 hours a month anyway.