Iran to Unveil Home-Made Cobra Chopper

[amirhessam]

The Iranian Army plans to unveil and put into operation Iran's first home-made Cobra chopper in special wargames of the Army's Airborne unit in the near future, a senior commander announced on Wednesday.

Speaking to FNA, Lieutenant Commander of the Army's Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari said that the unit would unveil the national military chopper in the special airborne exercises to be held in the near future.
As regards the capabilities of the national chopper, the commander stated, "The chopper is an advanced generation of Model 209, or Cobra, choppers which is also equipped with different types of home-made caliber guns, rockets and missiles."
"All the phases of designing and manufacturing of the chopper have been done inside the country and the helicopter enjoys some capabilities which make it preferable to Apache Choppers," Heidari said.
The commander further announced that different types of anti-chopper and anti-armor weapons will be tested in the wargames.
Iran has taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.
Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.
Iran to Unveil Home-Made Cobra Chopper

 

[Bonza]

Both GF and myself warned you in your Argentine thread about posting articles/links without any further comment/content. You're on holiday for two weeks, and if you're only interested in posting links without any discussion input, don't bother coming back.

 

[Belesari]

Isnt this copy rights infringment? Seriously, maybe we should ask them to stop copying our stuff though it is flattering.

 

[Anti AQ]

It looks like a AH-1J with upgrades maybe Iran Should make some real things instead of copying old us stuff.

 

[dbar0812]

I imagine most the parts they had to copy anyway. My question is how do they get the parts if the Americans won't sell it to them?

 

[Anti AQ]

I imagine most the parts they had to copy anyway. My question is how do they get the parts if the Americans won't sell it to them?

Buying it from other countries or maybe smuggling parts I've heard they smuggled a mirage f1...

 

[Gremlin29]

Their Cobra's were like the F4, F14 etc, leftovers from the days of the Sha back in the 70's. They've managed to clone an aircraft that has been around almost 50 years, quite an accomplishment.

 

[STURM]

I imagine most the parts they had to copy anyway. My question is how do they get the parts if the Americans won't sell it to them?

During the Iran/Iraq war what kept the Iranian air force flying was a huge stockpile of spares established before the revolution and a smuggling network involving individuals from various countries. In addition to the Hawks that were provided by Israel, Iran also received spares for various U.S. equipment via Israel and other means.

 

[surpreme]

Iran dont quit

There always reports from Iran of how they making something. Is this some kind of proganda the Iran are doing. What the big deal in copying a cobra. For one thing they brought a large number of them from the US in the 70's. Its so sad that Iran hasn't upgraded it Air Force since the 70's.

 

[STURM]

For one thing they brought a large number of them from the US in the 70's. Its so sad that Iran hasn't upgraded it Air Force since the 70's.

They have received some new gear over the years so it would be inacurrate to say that they haven't upgraded their air force since the 1970's. They would love to buy new stuff and have the cash to do so, problem is they can't.

 

[Anti AQ]

They have received some new gear over the years so it would be inacurrate to say that they haven't upgraded their air force since the 1970's. They would love to buy new stuff and have the cash to do so, problem is they can't.

Yes your right they have f14 upgraded by China and their other home made ones are copy of f5.

 

[Smokin' Joe]

There always reports from Iran of how they making something. Is this some kind of proganda the Iran are doing. What the big deal in copying a cobra. For one thing they brought a large number of them from the US in the 70's. Its so sad that Iran hasn't upgraded it Air Force since the 70's.

My personal opinion is that Iran just wants to be recognized as a capable power.

 

[Feanor]

Their Cobra's were like the F4, F14 etc, leftovers from the days of the Sha back in the 70's. They've managed to clone an aircraft that has been around almost 50 years, quite an accomplishment.

No sarcasm, it is an accomplishment. Given how exclusive the club of countries that can produce their own aircraft is, even if they're copying ancient designs, it's still impressive.

 

[STURM]

My personal opinion is that Iran just wants to be recognized as a capable power.

All these projects are driven by three factors -

1. Attempts to improve the local defence industry.

2. To thumb their nose at the West, primarily, the U.S., to say that despite years of sanctions and an arms embargo, the Iranians are still able come up with 'home grown' designs. And we have to give credit when its due, despite an embargo the Iranians have managed to kept some gear running, against all expectations.

3. The politics and rhetoric aside, the Iranians have no choice and have to start somewhere as they can't source new attack helicopters. And so what if the Cobra is a 50 year design and if the Iranians are merely copying it? What's important from their perspective, is that it meets their needs.

Yes your right they have f14 upgraded by China and their other home made ones are copy of f5.

Have there been any reports that make mention of help provided by China to upgrade the Tomcats?

 

[Klaus]

Iran's neighbours mostly don't have much more modern attack helicopters. Pakistan got Cobras, too, the Central Asian states operate Mi 24s, Afghanistan the Mi 35 (or Mi 24?). So by producing the AH 1 themselves they at least become an equal opponent to these countries.
What I find interesting is to what extent the helicopter has been upgraded and which weapons it will carry.

 

[Gremlin29]

Comparably equipped and equally capable are 2 different things. Yes I was being sarcastic earlier. While copying an old aircraft design may be an accomplishment for Iran's industry and avaialable resources, from the global aerospace or military perspective it is not.

I am curious to find out specifically what they have done to improve the Cobra. I have come up blank with finding any further info other than the press release in the link, or versions of it.

 

[Feanor]

Comparably equipped and equally capable are 2 different things. Yes I was being sarcastic earlier. While copying an old aircraft design may be an accomplishment for Iran's industry and avaialable resources, from the global aerospace or military perspective it is not.

I am curious to find out specifically what they have done to improve the Cobra. I have come up blank with finding any further info other than the press release in the link, or versions of it.

I suspect "improved" is a euphemism for "localized". But lets realize that Iran isn't a player in the global aerospace industry. They're trying to at least develop some self-sufficiency in the face of severe sanctions. In that light we can say that they're doing quite well given the circumstances.

 

[Anti AQ]

Comparably equipped and equally capable are 2 different things. Yes I was being sarcastic earlier. While copying an old aircraft design may be an accomplishment for Iran's industry and avaialable resources, from the global aerospace or military perspective it is not.

I am curious to find out specifically what they have done to improve the Cobra. I have come up blank with finding any further info other than the press release in the link, or versions of it.

As far as i know :
new cockpit armored panels
new, Iranian-designed canopy
New avionics
nose-mounted camera
new cockpit design

 

[Klaus]

Thanks for the info.

@Gremlin29: It's true that the Iranian armed forces may not be as capable as those of Saudi-Arabia or others, but nobody knows yet, how many new Cobras they're going to buy. If produced in large numbers, Iran's attack helicopter force may possibly become equal to those of the countries surrounding it (and with that I'm not referring to Israel).