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Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
Photo: Carl9311 · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
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BellAH-1SuperCobra

Attack Helicopters · United States · 1971
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BellAH-1SuperCobra

⚙ Bell AH-1 Cobra variant
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra Photo: Carl9311 · Wikimedia Commons · CC0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Firepower
85
Anti-Armour Capability
80
Survivability
75
Sensors & Targeting
65
Agility
80
Range & Endurance
70
Night Capability
60
Reliability
85
Technology
70
Cost-Effectiveness
80
Origin United States
ManufacturerBell Textron
CategoryAttack Helicopters
EraCold War
In service1971–1989
Operators5 countries
Quantity1,271
Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
76
Attack Helicopters MASS Rating
4/21
Cold War
13/45
All-Time
Attack Helicopters · 10 axes scored
Firepower
85
Anti-Armour Capability
80
Survivability
75
Sensors & Targeting
65
Agility
80
Range & Endurance
70
Night Capability
60
Reliability
85
Technology
70
Cost-Effectiveness
80
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the attack helicopters category.
01 / Overview
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
Prime contractor
Production
1971–1989
Quantity
1,271
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
ATTACK HELICOPTERS · COLD WAR
4
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
85
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
76
attack helicopters category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the attack helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • First Flight1969
  • Service Entry Year1971
  • Crew2
  • Primary RoleAttack helicopter
  • In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant7MOD.7
  • Engine TypeP&W Canada T400-CP-400 (PT6T-3 Twin-Pac)
  • Number of Engines1
  • Engine Power (each)2,684 kW
  • Rotor ConfigurationTwo-blade
  • Main Rotor Diameter14.6 m
  • Main Rotor Blades2
  • Anti-Torque TypeTail rotor
▣Performance5MOD.5
  • Top Speed315 km/h
  • Cruise Speed240 km/h
  • Service Ceiling3,720 m
  • Range450 km
  • Rate of Climb8.2 m/s
◇Dimensions & Weights4MOD.4
  • Fuselage Length16.154 m
  • Height3.962 m
  • Empty Weight4,500 kg
  • Max Takeoff Weight7,700 kg
◆Armament & Mission6MOD.6
▲Production2MOD.2
  • Total Built1,271
  • Variants1
◎Service History3MOD.3
  • Retirement Year2020
  • Production Start1970
  • Production End1989
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1971Production started
  2. 1978First deployment: Somali Civil War
  3. 1989Production ended
55
years in service
18
years in production
1,271
units produced
5
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
BELL AH-1 SUPERCOBRA · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE12terms
Anti-Tank Guided Missile: a missile designed to destroy tanks.
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Chaff/Flare: Countermeasures deployed by attack helicopters to disrupt radar- or heat-seeking missiles by creating false targets or decoys.
Armored protective panels installed in the cockpit area of an attack helicopter to shield the crew from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
Combined forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and electro-optical (EO) sensor turret for target acquisition and tracking, typically mounted on aircraft or ground vehicles.
A radar system that tracks targets and guides weapons to intercept them, used for weapon aiming and missile guidance in combat aircraft and ships.
A helmet-mounted system that projects flight, targeting, and sensor data directly into a pilot's field of view.
Electronic receiver system that detects and identifies radar signals, alerting aircraft to potential threats for defensive countermeasures.
Aerodynamic containers mounted on aircraft, typically helicopters or fighter jets, that hold and launch unguided rockets in rapid succession.
Fuel tanks equipped with a material that automatically seals punctures from small arms fire or shrapnel to prevent leakage and reduce fire risk.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Attack Helicopters entry →