Which Attack Helicopter is Best?

Which is Best?

  • Total voters
    61
K

kubai02

New Member
I voted for KA50/52 although AH64D came in very close...

The Russians have always made machines meant for the average users that's why I chose the werewolf/alligator over apache. Apache's are great machines but it requires a lot of support (material and personnel). What I liked about KA50/52 is the speed that makes it ideal for it to undertake the antihelicopter role effectively and it is the only helicopter that has a feasible ejection system in-place.

To me the Hind era has come to an end (so much so for the Cobra even though there are upgrade efforts i.e. AH1Z).
 
G

Gremlin29

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
KA 50/52 is no match at all for Apache D in the air to air arena, the Apache's radar can be dedicated to aerial threats while the KA 50 has no air to air radar capability. From an anti-armor perspective, Apache D can fire on multiple targets all the while remaining masked (hidden) from direct line of site, again something KA 50/52 are incapable of. The KA 50 is a neat machine but to me it's just like the "state of the art" Migs and Sukhoi's that never went into production and it's already a full generation behind in dedicated gunship development. When there are hundreds of KA 50's with proven combat experience they can be judged more fully. For now, they are not much more than dream machines which like all other Russian hardware of the past 20 years, a day late and a dollar short.
 
M

Mike Powell

New Member
Hello guys, it's been a while.

Let see, best helicopter gunship eh.

Different helicopter got their own advantage that will eventually exploit by the user during the test or better, in the combat situation. Some got better agility, some got better enviromental tolerance and some got better armor protection and e.t.c. It's only depend how well the operator use that machine.

As a Malaysian, here's my list of helicopter gunship that considered suit the Malaysia's purpose -

- Denel Rooivalk
- Agusta Mangusta
- Kamov Ka-50

The reason I choose Rooivalk and Mangusta because they're designed for harsh enviromental condition and great firepower that will or may even match the Apache's supremacy. While the Ka-50, this helicopter considered got some revolutionary system although she may not as advance as the Apache or Tiger. And with counter-rotate rotors, she's a fast climber and mover, if I'm not wrong. :)
 
A

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
your choice mike is more like choosing the cheapest toys in the store. no radar means u have to rely on eyebals and camera. of course, MOKOPA might change that, hopefully.


petaling jaya, not far away, i work at kem sungai besi.
 
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SABRE

SABRE

Super Moderator
Verified Defense Pro
The best would be APACHE, it can take out 20 tanks. CAMACHE is to take over Apache so thats going to be the no.1 attack helicopter with stealth body.
 
A

Awang se

New Member
Verified Defense Pro
CAMACHE? u mean COMMANCHE? i thought it was already scrapped. even if it is operational, it will be used mostly as an armed scout or as reconaissance screen for ground column. it will support AH-64, not replacing it. i believe it will replace KIOWA as a scout. it has new rotor blade design and ducted engine which making it significantly less noisy than any other helo in the world.
 
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A

Aussie Digger

Guest
Sorry guys, Commanche has been axed. Too expensive, and not providing enough capability for the money. Just like "Crusader". The AH-64 Apache can carry a maximum of 16 Hellfire missiles. It'd be lucky to be able to "take out" 20 tanks in a single mission. It'd need a few "re-bounds"...

The Mangusta, like the Tiger, due to it's small size can only carry 8 Hellfire class missiles. These attack helo's are designed more for recon and escort tasks rather than the tank busting role of the Apache. The Mangusta and Tiger are more akin to what the Commanche's intended role was; recon and escort tasks but with an inate tank killing ability, ie: Hellfire.

The Rooivalk though it seems like a capable helo, has yet to win an overseas order and only 16 have been purchased by the South African Air Force (SAAF). The Mokopa missile is apparently roughly equivalent in capability to Hellfire, though possibly with a slightly longer range. It is a laser guided munition, not a radar guided munition, which is just as well considered the Rooivalk doesn't have a radar...

I don't know much about the KA-50, but I don't believe Russia actually uses it. I could be wrong, but I understood the Russians chose the Mil-Mi-28 in preference over it, leaving a Country in the same situation as it woulod be in if it bought the Rooivalk, ie: the operator of an "orphan" aircraft. I'd personally choose the Mangusta, Tiger or Apache depending on the requirements of the end user. At least these aircraft have relatively large (VERY large in the case of the Apache) support bases behind them...
 
T

Temoor_A

New Member
The AH-64 A/D Apache Assault Helo is no doubt the best of all. It's survival capabilities have been tested in Afghanistan and Iraq with massive success and very minimal loss.

It is also nicknamed as "Tank Buster"!
 
E

Elite Brain

New Member
I voted for the Longbow Apache. Its a shame the COMANCHE project was axed...now that was a kick ass attack helicopter. Can we say it was the "F-22 Raptor" of all current attack helis? :p:
 
D

driftder

New Member
I have a look at the various helicopters discussed and will like to recommend the Mi-28 Havoc, which is a close enough comparison with the Apache-64 Longbow. The only difference between the two is the position of the radar, the Apache-64 Longbow having a mast-mounted radar post on top of the roters, thus giving better(?) 360 degree coverage whilst the Mi-28 Havoc have only frontal arc coverage.

One other point about the Mi-28 Havoc that draws my recommendation is that its not found outside the Russian inventory and that there are no(?) exports of this model, thus perhaps indicating that this is a non-export critical item?

Next is - cost. It should be cheaper then the top of the line Longbow and properly Westernised, perhaps making changes to the radar position from front to mast-mounted, the missiles (but not the gun as it's supposed to better), engines etc.

Still for a top of the line tank-busting attack helicopter, the AH-64 Longbow is the top winner for the moment - until some better comes along.
 
D

driftder

New Member
More to my earlier post about modifying a Russian non-export helicopter model by Westernising it. One example would be the Ka-50-2 Erdogan - more information to be found this link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/ka-50-2.htm. A picture of the Ka-50-2 Erdogan can be found at the same link. I tried to post the picture, but the size is too big or something :confused:.

This model would be a lethal Kamov/IAI combination and would have given may be even the AH-64D Longbow a good run for its money.
 
B

Boyle

New Member
Yes the AH 64 has more antitank missiles bou the Eurocopter tiger has double++ the range and if the appache wanted the range they would have to have pylon munted fuel tanks meaning theyd have the same armement as the tiger the tiger also has the cost of 1/2 the Apaches price
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
muslim282 said:
Yes but you must remember the Mi24 has taken numerous casualties all around the world in various conflicts. The Apache and cobras have had alot better performances.
Click to expand...
The HInds are actually considered to be obsolete depending on the threat matrix. The Russians have upgraded a short squadron but are phasing the bulk of them out.

The most prolific users now are in Africa. Israel has beeing providing SLEP for some of them, but most countries that are using them to be cost ineffective.

The Mil17 however is growing in popularity as a gunship even though it's of the same relative vintage and is less protected and/or capable.
 
A

ajay_ijn

New Member
Aussie Digger said:
Sorry guys, Commanche has been axed. Too expensive, and not providing enough capability for the money. Just like "Crusader". The AH-64 Apache can carry a maximum of 16 Hellfire missiles. It'd be lucky to be able to "take out" 20 tanks in a single mission. It'd need a few "re-bounds"...

The Mangusta, like the Tiger, due to it's small size can only carry 8 Hellfire class missiles. These attack helo's are designed more for recon and escort tasks rather than the tank busting role of the Apache. The Mangusta and Tiger are more akin to what the Commanche's intended role was; recon and escort tasks but with an inate tank killing ability, ie: Hellfire.

The Rooivalk though it seems like a capable helo, has yet to win an overseas order and only 16 have been purchased by the South African Air Force (SAAF). The Mokopa missile is apparently roughly equivalent in capability to Hellfire, though possibly with a slightly longer range. It is a laser guided munition, not a radar guided munition, which is just as well considered the Rooivalk doesn't have a radar...

I don't know much about the KA-50, but I don't believe Russia actually uses it. I could be wrong, but I understood the Russians chose the Mil-Mi-28 in preference over it, leaving a Country in the same situation as it woulod be in if it bought the Rooivalk, ie: the operator of an "orphan" aircraft. I'd personally choose the Mangusta, Tiger or Apache depending on the requirements of the end user. At least these aircraft have relatively large (VERY large in the case of the Apache) support bases behind them...
Click to expand...
Ka-50 entered in russian service in 1995.
But they don't have enough money to buy more.
Only 8 Ka-50s are in russian service.
Ka-50s were offered to India,China and even Turkey.
IAI has offered some electornics and weapons to be integrated into Ka-50.
Mi-28 actually lost out the competetion with Ka-50.
 
F

faheem

New Member
I thinck that the best helicopter that has been built up till now is the American COMANCHE which is really the best and it will be given to the American army in 2009.It has many adventges like stealth , it rotors have also very low voice and it can not also be detected by heat seeking missiles due its speical systems. It can repare its systems and many many more
 
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