U.S. Approves Sale of AH-64E Apache, AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters to Philippines

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale six AH-64E Apache and six AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the Government of the Philippines.
The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy six (6) AH-1Z attack helicopters; fourteen (14) T-700 GE 401C engines (12 installed, 2 spares); seven (7) Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation (EGIs) w/Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (6 installed, 1 spare); six (6) AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles; and twenty six (26) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) all up rounds.
defpost

Philippines to receive Cobra helicopter from Jordan

The Philippines has confirmed it is to receive used U.S.-built Cobra helicopter gunships donated by Jordan, marking the first time the country will operate dedicated attack helicopters.
The helicopters were offered to the Philippines sometime in 2017.
Jordan had initially offered to donate four helicopters to the southeast Asian country, although this was later reduced to two. Jordan had earlier donated at least three Cobra helicopter gunships to Kenya from its fleet of almost 50 Cobras, which include ex-U.S. Army helicopters acquired in 2001 and 15 more from neighboring Israel in 2015.
The AH-1F Cobras being donated to the Philippines are capable of utilizing guided anti-tank missiles. The country has already taken delivery of the Israeli Rafael Spike Extended Range missile for its Navy’s fast-attack craft and selected the Spike Non Line Of Sight for its Leonardo AW159 Wildcat naval helicopters,
As such, integrating the Spike, which is already being used on Israel’s Cobra helicopters, would appear to be the likely route for the Philippines when funding is available.
The Philippines has been battling insurgencies on several fronts, including a five-month-long battle with Islamic State-linked militants who seized control of the city of Marawi in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in May 2017.
The military took back the city after a protracted urban battle with the help of manned and unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft from the U.S. and Australia.
During the battle, the Philippine Air Force conducted airstrikes using fixed-wing aircraft along with Leonardo A109E utility and Hughes MD-520MG light-attack helicopters, although the use of unguided bombs, rockets and gunfire resulted in several instances of friendly fire casualties when troops were accidentally hit by airstrikes while in close contact with the militants.
Mike Yeo - defensenews

US Clear AH-1Z Sale To Pakistan

US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan for 15 AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters and AGM-114R Hellfire II Missiles and associated equipment.
This proposed sale will provide Pakistan with a precision strike, enhanced survivability aircraft that it can operate at high-altitudes. By acquiring this capability, Pakistan will enhance its ability to conduct operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and other remote and mountainous areas in all-weather, day-and-night environments. Pakistan will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
The principal contractors will be Bell Helicopter, Textron, General Electric, Boeing and Lockheed Martin in Bethesda. There are no known offset agreements proposed.
dsca

Nigeria looking for more attack aircraft

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has received a proposal from a defence company for the sale of six Puma gunship helicopters, four Sukhoi Su-25KM ground attack jets, and two upgraded Su-25UB trainers.
According reports unidentified company had "reached an agreement with the NAF to substitute the initial order for Cobra AH-1V with alternative attack platforms".
The US State Department confirmed in November 2014 that it had blocked a deal to sell Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria because of concerns about its military's human rights record and ability to operate the aircraft. The Nigerian press reported that the attack helicopters would have been ex-Israeli Air Force Cobras.
The only Pumas upgraded into gunships were Romanian-built IAR 330s that were converted into the SOCAT armed version with a chin-mounted 20 mm gun and Rafael Spike guided missiles with the help of the Israeli company Elbit Systems between 2000 and 2005.
Elbit Systems was also involved in the Su-25KM 'Scorpion' upgrade programme along with Georgia's Tblisi Aircraft Manufacturing company.
janes

Israeli phased out the AH-1 attack helicopter fleet due to budget cuts

Israel has phased out its AH-1 'Cobra' attack helicopters in favour of using drones.
Israel's last squadron of Cobras, was pulled from service late last year. The decision was previously kept under wraps but disclosed in an increasingly public feud between the Defence Ministry and Treasury over budget cuts.
Israel began flying Cobras after the 1973 Middle East war, when its forces were battered by Egyptian and Syrian armour and air defence units.
With Egypt now at peace with Israel, and Syria riven by a more than 3-year-old revolt, the main threat Israel faces from their territories, as with neighbouring Lebanon and Gaza, is sneak attacks by guerrilla rocket crews or riflemen.
Israel retains two squadrons of Apache helicopters. It also flies an undisclosed number of pilotless drones.
The Cobras were axed as part of budget cuts.
Israel had a fleet of approximately 33 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters.
Locally made Israeli drones increasingly patrol combat zones such as the Gaza Strip. They can circle for long hours on propeller engines, beaming back video to mark ground targets or to guide troops.
reuters

Turkey Pushes T-129 Gunships for Pakistan, but US Could Scupper Deal

Turkey is aggressively lobbying to give T-129 attack helicopters to Pakistan to replace its aging AH-1F fleet and is prepared to agree to generous terms with cash-strapped Pakistan to do so.
However, the US could sink the deal and make a counteroffer of helicopter gunships to Pakistan that could be too good to refuse.
Pakistani media reports state a deal with Turkey could lead to local production of the T-129 at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), but speculation that preparations are already underway to build a new helicopter production facility there could not be confirmed.
Turkey made its latest push during Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Sept. 16-18 visit to Turkey for the Third High Level Cooperation Council meeting. Sharif was given a demonstration of the T-129’s capabilities and a potential deal was discussed.
Turkish officials confirmed talks have “matured to a certain extent,” and Turkey remains committed to any possible deal, not only for financial benefits but also potential strategic gains.
Azerbaijan is reportedly looking to buy 60 T-129 helicopters. Jordan’s King Abdullah, who was in Turkey in March, visited Turkish Aerospace Industries, co-maker of the T-129, and examined both the helicopter gunship and Turkey’s first locally-developed drone, the Anka.
Despite Turkey’s hopes, however, the US might try to tempt Pakistan with a deal for the AH-1Z Viper helicopter.
No one at the defense section in the US Embassy would comment on the matter, but details were confirmed by sources in Pakistan familiar with the deal.
Pakistan has been awarded US $300 million in foreign military financing for FY2013-2014, which could be used to procure the Viper attack helicopters, made by Bell.
defensenews

Israel's Defense Ministry looking to sell surplus planes, tanks and boats to 'friendly nations

A list of hardware being sold off by the Defense Ministry reveals the inventory of planes, tanks and other items that have been taken out of service by the Israel Defense Forces and delivered to the ministry for overseas sales. Included in the list of army surplus are 25 Kfir warplanes, eight Cobra helicopters, and 18 fighter-interceptor F-16 Hawks.
haaretz

Korea Decision on Attack Helicopters Nearing

he U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Sept. 25 two potential attack helicopter sales to South Korea.

The first, worth $2.6 billion, is for 36 AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters.

Prime contractors will be Bell-Textron Corporation and General Electric.

The second, worth $3.6 billion, is for 36 AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopters. Prime contractors will be Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Electric.

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Terminan pruebas de nuevo cockpit del AH-1Z/ U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Helicopter Upgrade Completes Evaluation With Integrated Cockpit

Northrop Grumman ha completado las pruebas del nuevo cockpit de los helicópteros AH-1Z del U.S Marine Corps. Las pruebas han durado tres meses.
El nuevo sistema ofrece mejores datos de misión, reduciendo la carga de trabajo de la tripulación y mejora la percepción de la misión.
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Northrop Grumman was key elements in the successful completion of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) for the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Cobra, its newest attack helicopter system.
OPEVAL, a three-month process of testing the AH-1Z Cobra by operating the helicopters under combat deployment conditions, was conducted in multiple environments emulating real-world scenarios. The successful completion of OPEVAL designates the aircraft suitable for use and marks the final hurdle before full-rate production approval.
The Northrop Grumman IAS onboard the AH-1Z helicopters makes critical mission data available to the pilot and co-pilot on four displays, reducing workload and increasing aircrew situational awareness
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Filipinas comprará ocho helicópteros de combate a Polonia/Philippines to buy 8 Polish combat utility helicopters

Filipinas ha decidido comprar ocho nuevos helicópteros a Polonia, en lugar de adquir helicópteros Cobra modernizados a Israel. El contrato ha sido firmado recientemente entre el gobierno filipino y el polaco. Cuatro helicópteros Swidnik, serán entregados antes de un año. El contrato que se había firmado con Israel por los Cobra, fue rechazado por la Fuerza Aérea de Filipinas.
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Philippines has decided buy eight new combat utility helicopters from Poland instead of second-hand Cobra attack helicopters from Israel.
A government-to-government contract was recently signed by the defense department with its Polish counterpart for the purchase of the combat utility helicopters. Initial delivery of four units is expected within a year. The defense department earlier closed a P3-billion deal with Israel for the acquisition of a fleet of reconditioned single-engine Cobra attack helicopters, but the deal did not push through because the Philippine Air Force (PAF) rejected it.
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