AH-1 Cobra U.S. helicopter armament subsystems



schematic of emerson tat-102a on ah-1g helicopter


the tat-102a (tactical armament turret-102a) initial main armament ah-1g helicopter, though designed interim measure. related tat-101 mentioned in uh-1 entry. turret mounts single m134 minigun 25 degrees of elevation, 90 degrees of depression, , 180 degrees of motion in azimuth, slew rate of 80 degrees per second. tat-102a designated xm64 army.



xm65/m65

the cobra missile system functional development of xm26 , tow missile system developed failed ah-56 helicopter. designed ah-1q , ah-1s cobras, ah-1f modernized cobra rebuilt use system. original iteration of system comprises launchers allowing 4 bgm-71 tow missiles per aircraft pylon carried, , tsu or telescopic sight unit, allow targeting , guidance of missile. tsu has been upgraded laat (laser-augmented airborne tow), day/night range finder, , c-nite (cobra-night imaging thermal equipment), thermal imagine/flir system ah-1s , ah-1f cobra helicopters.



m97 series , a/a49e-7 (ge universal turret)

the standard fixed armament system army s ah-1s upgunned cobra (eventually redesignated ah-1e enhanced cobra armament system or ecas) , ah-1s modernized cobra (eventually redesignated ah-1f), as, marine corps ah-1j, ah-1t, ah-1w, , ah-1z helicopters. system designed fit either m197 20 mm 3 barreled cannon or xm188 30 mm 3 barreled cannon. in practice m197 standard fit , xm188 not adopted service. turret has 110 degrees of motion in azimuth, 21 degrees of elevation, , 50 degrees of depression, slew rate in azimuth of 80 degrees per second , in elevation , depression of 60 degrees per second.


as m28 series, specifics between variants of m97 vague. 5 standard models known exist, m97/a1-a4. sources suggest individual variants of turret specific variants of ah-1 m28 series. m97a1 (and possibly m97) fitted ah-1s upgunned cobra, m97a2/a3 ah-1s modernized cobra (ah-1f), , m97a4 production ah-1fs. other sources m97a3 refitted ah-1e ecas , m97a2 initial armament ah-1s modernized cobra, agreeing m97a1 original fit ah-1s upgunned cobra. there possibility differences have associated equipment m197 cannon, including use of m89 or m89e1 delinking feeder.


the m97 fitted ah-1j, unclear if ah-1t, ah-1w, , ah-1z used variants of m97 series. subsystem used on ah-1t , ah-1w has designation in usaf s aeronautical , support equipment type designation system (asetds), a/a49e-7. turret in system designated under asetds system, gtu-1/a. how system differs army counterparts unknown. amendment official military specification, mil-f-85668(as), put out united states naval air systems command on 15 november 1995, listed a/a49e-7(v4) inactive pending new design, , listed system relevant ah-1t (tow).



xm120 (emerson tat-140)

a competing universal turret design m97 put forward emerson electric, xm120 fitted number of weapons including m60c 7.62×51mm machine gun, m134 minigun, m197 20 mm 3 barreled cannon, xm188 30 mm 3 barreled cannon, , in fact tested xm140 30 mm cannon.








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