M PORT rating: the best US helicopters. The best attack helicopters in the world

In 1976, it was planned to enter service with a new CH-46E helicopter, created on the basis of the CH-46D helicopter. The foreign press indicated that it would be equipped with a T58-16 engine with an 1870 horsepower. c, have a maximum takeoff weight of 10,600 kg and will be able to take off from a site located at an altitude of 900 m above sea level, at an ambient temperature of 33 ° C. For the same helicopter, by the beginning of 1979, it is planned to develop fiberglass rotor blades.

The Boeing company began the implementation of the program for the further modernization of the CH-47 helicopter at the end of 1976. The new version of the helicopter, designated CH-47D, has (unlike the latest model CH-47C) a simplified hydraulic system and an improved control system. It is reported that as a result of a number of design changes, the survivability of the helicopter will increase. Ultimately, the company's specialists suggest reducing the helicopter's vulnerability to enemy fire by 36-75%. It is planned to modernize 198 helicopters, the pace of work is three machines per month. According to the US Army Command, the implementation of this modernization program will significantly improve the combat capabilities of CH-47 helicopters.

The main calculated performance characteristics of the above new and modernized helicopters are given in the table.

Currently, US Army specialists are defining a set of requirements for a promising reconnaissance helicopter, the creation of which is scheduled for the ASH (Advanced Scout Helicopter) program. In particular, as reported in the foreign press, their requirements for the equipment of such a helicopter provide for the installation of an electronic equipment complex (the total weight of which should not exceed 370 kg), including a television detection system, an infrared night vision system in the front hemisphere, a laser designator and a laser range finder.

Under this program, it is planned to purchase 700 vehicles. Some American experts believe that since one of the main conditions of the ASH program is the low cost of a helicopter (less than $ 1 million), the development of a new machine is excluded. There are only two options for implementing the program: the modernization of 700 light reconnaissance helicopters currently in service or the modernization of 400 existing OH-6D air surveillance helicopters, as well as the purchase of 300 more advanced helicopters of a similar class OH-58A and re-equipping them with the above equipment.

The above data shows that the creation of new and improvement of helicopters in service with the US Army is the next round of the arms race, which is continued by US imperialism, despite the positive changes taking place in the world.

First seen over the battlefield during the Korean War, helicopters revolutionized military tactics. Today, rotorcraft confidently occupy their niche in the arsenal of modern armies and civil services, performing the tasks of transporting people and cargo, providing fire support, taking part in search and rescue operations and reconnaissance missions.
To earn the right to be called the best, cars must show everything they are capable of. In the most severe climatic conditions, loaded "to the eyeballs", under enemy fire and at the limit of their capabilities.

We bring to your attention the top ten helicopters in the world according to the Military Channel. As always, the selection criteria will be the technical excellence of designs, production volumes, the legendary and chief and impartial judge - experience in military conflicts.

All 10 helicopters presented in the review have their own remarkable features, they all went through the school of survival in hot spots and received funny slang names.

Like any Military Channel show, this rating is not without bias. Another controversial point - how can you compare transport and attack helicopters? According to the creators of the rating, there are few highly specialized designs, most helicopters are multi-purpose. For example, the transport Mi-8 can successfully support ground troops with fire, not to mention its assault modification Mi-8AMTSh Terminator.
All the necessary comments have been made, now I propose to get to know the technique better.

10th place - Cow

Mi-26 - heavy transport helicopter
First flight - 1977
310 built
Carrying capacity - 20 tons of cargo or 80 paratroopers

The rotary-wing heavyweight has become the largest helicopter in the world. Unique opportunities required special technical solutions. Eight-bladed main rotor, multi-threaded power transmission, three video cameras for monitoring the condition of the load on the external sling - these are just some of the features of this machine.
A serious test for the Mi-26 was the work to eliminate the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Overloaded with lead radiation shielding, Mi-26s were engaged in complex assembly operations on the territory of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In order not to raise clouds of radioactive dust, it was necessary to work with an elongated external suspension, which required remarkable courage and skill from the crews. All Mi-26s that took part in this operation were buried in the Exclusion Zone.

9th place - Links (Lynx)

Westland Lynx - British multi-purpose helicopter

First flight - 1971
400 built
Combat load - 750 kg, including 10 troops and outboard weapons: 4 anti-ship missiles in the marine version or 20 mm guns, 70 mm Hydra rockets and up to 8 TOW anti-tank missiles in the land version.

The appearance of the "Lynx" is not impressive: there is no aggressiveness of the American "Apache" or Mi-24 in it. But despite its typically civilian appearance, the combat "Lynx" is one of the most common ship-based helicopters in the world. The Lynx took part in the Falklands War, a cycle of naval battles that became the largest naval conflict since the Second World War. The combat debut was successful - the Lynxes of the Royal Navy sank an Argentine patrol ship with the help of Sea Scua anti-ship missiles. Over its forty-year history, the Lynxes made their mark in the war zone in the Balkans, where they ensured the blockade of the coast of Yugoslavia and in Iraq in the winter of 1991, destroying the T-43 minesweeper, 4 border boats, a landing ship and a missile boat.
But what makes the Westland Lynx truly unique? Incredibly, this unsightly machine holds the world speed record among serial helicopters - in 1986, the Lynx accelerated to 400 km / h.

8th place - Flying car

Boeing CH-47 "Chinook" - heavy military transport helicopter of the longitudinal scheme
First flight - 1961
1179 built
Carrying capacity: 12 tons of cargo or up to 55 people

An important feature of the modern army is its mobility. If on a global scale the transfer of troops is provided by transport aviation, then directly on the battlefield this is the task of helicopters.
This problem was especially acute for the American army in Vietnam - mountainous terrain, sudden changes in weather, lack of maps and roads, an omnipresent and numerous enemy - all this required a special air means. This is where the Chinook heavy transport helicopter came in handy, built according to an unusual longitudinal scheme with two rotors. During his long service, many funny stories have accumulated. For example, one of the loading options sounded like this: you can stuff 33 Americans or ... 55 Vietnamese into a Chinook. Once, during the evacuation of Vietnamese refugees, a record was registered: 147 people were taken on board.

"Flying wagons" tried to stay away from the battlefield, specializing in the transfer of cargo from ships to supply bases. Although more exotic applications are known: as bombers, smoke curtains, tear gas sprayers, artillery "tractors". They looked especially impressive in raids on evacuation of damaged aircraft: in the first year of hostilities, the Chinooks took out 100 planes and helicopters that made emergency landings.In total, during the Vietnam War, they evacuated a thousand devices with a total value of 3 billion dollars!
The helicopter is still in service, taking part in operations around the world.

7th place - Cobra

Bell AH-1 “Cobra” – attack helicopter
First flight - 1965
1116 Cobras and 1271 Super Cobras built
Built-in weapons: a remote-controlled installation with two six-barreled Miniguns + 4 suspension points, on which containers with machine guns, air-to-air missiles, 70 mm NURSs, anti-tank guided missiles TOW can be placed.

Scary helicopter. As if Death itself descended from heaven in the guise of a narrow, sinister silhouette of the Cobra. The nose machine gun turret continued to fire even if the helicopter was flying in the other direction. Bloody Vietnam, the Middle East, where the Cobras unexpectedly turned into tank hunters, the meat grinder in Waziristan, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq - this is an incomplete track record of the Cobra ...

The AH-1 was the world's first purpose-built attack helicopter. The pilots' cockpits and side projections are protected by NORAC composite armor. "Cobra" received a powerful sighting system that allows you to work on targets in any weather conditions.
To date, the upgraded "Cobra" is in service with the US Marine Corps. The light compact helicopter has excellent characteristics for being deployed on amphibious assault ships and aircraft carriers.

6th place - Crocodile

Mi-24 - transport and combat helicopter
NATO code name - Hind ("Doe")
First flight - 1969
Over 2000 units built
Built-in armament: four-barreled machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber on a mobile mount; suspended weapons: free-fall bombs, NURSs with a caliber from 57 to 240 mm, the Falanga anti-tank missile system, suspended cannon containers, as well as up to 8 people in the troop compartment.

American experts issued a stunning verdict: the Mi-24 is not a helicopter! Like this. No more and no less.
The Mi-24 looks like a helicopter, it is used as a helicopter, but from a technical point of view, it is a hybrid of an airplane and a helicopter. Indeed, the Mi-24 cannot hover in one place or take off from a "patch" - it needs a runway (under normal load, the takeoff run is 100 ... 150 meters). What's the secret? Visually, the Mi-24 has disproportionately large pylons (in fact, these are decent-sized wings). US Air Force specialists, testing the Crocodile that fell into their hands, determined that it creates at least a quarter of the lift force with the help of wings, and, at high speeds, the value can reach 40%.
The Mi-24 piloting technique is also unusual - with a decrease in lift, the pilot lowers the nose slightly - the car accelerates and lift appears on the wings. Like on a plane.

And you thought such wings for beauty?

What are the benefits of this outlandish hybrid? Firstly, the Mi-24 was created according to the concept of a "flying infantry fighting vehicle", which required non-standard technical solutions from the designers - heavy armor, an airborne compartment and a powerful weapon system did not fit in a standard helicopter design. Secondly, due to its "aircraft" qualities, the heavy "Crocodile" is one of the fastest combat helicopters in the world (maximum speed - 320 km / h).
"Crocodile" fought in the gorges of the Caucasus and the Pamir Mountains, in the hot Asian deserts and tropical forests of Equatorial Africa. But military glory came to him in Afghanistan. The unique rotary-wing attack aircraft became a symbol of that war.

According to the Iraqi government newspaper The Baghdad Observer, in 1982, during the Iran-Iraq War, an Mi-24 shot down an Iranian F-4 Phantom supersonic fighter. Unfortunately, the exact details of that battle remain unclear. But it is known for certain that Hussein's pilots on the Mi-24 shot down two dozen Iranian helicopters. On this occasion - black humor from the creators of the rating: "Never smile at the crocodile!" (Never mess with a crocodile).
But the best thing about the "Crocodile" was said by an Afghan Mujahideen in an interview with an American news channel: We are not afraid of the Russians, but we are afraid of their helicopters.

5th place - Stallion

Sikorsky CH-53E “Super Stallion” - heavy transport helicopter
First flight - 1974
Built - 115 units
Carrying capacity - 13 tons of payload in the cargo compartment or up to 14.5 tons on an external sling; or 55 paratroopers

The giant flying boat CH-53E is a deep modernization of the famous CH-53 "Sea Stalyen" helicopter, created in 1964 specifically for the needs of the Navy, Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. Specialists of the Sikorsky company mounted a third engine and a seven-blade main rotor on the original design, for which the sailors called the modernized helicopter "Hurricane Maker" (literally - "hurricane maker"), such a powerful whirlwind of water spray and elastic air jets is created by the power plant CH- 53E.

Night operation, Iraq

What else is famous for "Stallion" (namely, this is how Stallion is translated)? On this huge machine, the "dead loop" was demonstrated!
The maritime career of the CH-53 and CH-53E was not limited to standard transport missions. Rotary-wing flying boats were used as minesweepers(modification MH-53) and took part in search and rescue operations (modification HH-53). The in-flight refueling system installed on the helicopter allows you to stay in the air day and night.
"Stallion" took root on land - the military liked the powerful transport helicopter. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the CH-53 and CH-53E were used as Gunships, supporting ground forces with fire. In total, the CH-53 family includes 522 helicopters built.

4th place - Huey (Iroquois)

Bell UH-1 - multi-purpose military helicopter
First flight - 1956
Built - more than 16,000 units
Carrying capacity: 1.5 tons or 12-14 soldiers.

This private "air cavalry", along with napalm, became a symbol of the Vietnam War. Veterans remember that the Hueys became their home - helicopters delivered them to the position, brought them equipment, supplied them with provisions and ammunition, covered them from the air, and evacuated them from the battlefield in case of injury. Despite the huge losses (3000 vehicles did not return to base), the combat use of the Huey is recognized as successful. According to dry statistics, over the 11 years of the war, helicopters made 36 million sorties, i.e. one irretrievable loss accounted for 18,000 sorties - a completely unique result! And this despite the fact that the Huey did not have a reservation at all.

Before the advent of specialized Cobras, Hueys had to perform strike operations - a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns and 48 unguided rockets on a suspension turned the UH-1 into an infernal machine. The fire of the tactical battle group "Eagle Flight" (Flight of Eagles - American tactics of using helicopters) from 10 ... 12 vehicles was equal to the fire of two infantry battalions.

The Huey is Hollywood's favorite helicopter. No action movie is complete without a UH-1 flight scene. As expected, the heroes are sitting in a cockpit open on both sides, carelessly dangling their legs overboard.
Huey holds another record - so many of them were produced that by the end of the 60s, the American troops in Indochina had more helicopters than all the other armies in the world combined. Military and civilian versions of the Huey were delivered to 70 countries around the world (almost like a Kalashnikov assault rifle).

3rd place - Mi-8

Multipurpose helicopter
First flight - 1961
Built - more than 17,000 units
Load capacity: 3 tons or 24 people
Combat load of shock modifications: 2-3 machine guns and up to 1.5 tons of weapons on 6 hardpoints, including 57 mm unguided rockets, free-fall bombs and the Falanga anti-tank complex.

Created 50 years ago, the helicopter turned out to be so successful that it still receives orders from all over the world. It has three dozen civil and military modifications. It is used as a transport and attack helicopter, used for reconnaissance, as a command post, minelayer, tanker and ambulance helicopter. Civilian versions serve passenger airlines, are used in agriculture and during the liquidation of the consequences of natural and man-made disasters.

Military modification of the Mi-8TV ("heavy weapons")

The helicopter is simple, reliable, operated in any conditions - from the hot Sahara to the Far North. Passed all military conflicts, including Afghanistan, Chechnya and the Middle East. And he won't be able to find a replacement anytime soon.

2nd place - Apache

Boeing AH-64 "Apache" - attack helicopter
First flight - 1975
Built - 1174 units
Built-in weapons - 30 mm automatic cannon. Suspended weapons - 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, 76 NURS 70 mm caliber or Stinger missile systems for air combat.

"Apache" is a cult machine that has become the prototype of a whole class of modern combat helicopters. He gained fame during Desert Storm, where, according to NATO representatives, he successfully fought tanks. Regularly used by the Israel Defense Forces Air Force.
Only one helicopter - the Russian Mi-28N "Night Hunter" - was able to openly challenge Apache during the Indian tender for the supply of combat helicopters in the fall of 2011. But the old warrior turned out to be smarter and more agile than the young recruit - the electronics “finished” during numerous conflicts allowed the modern modification of the AH-64D “Apache Longbow” to operate more efficiently in the dark. However, Indian experts noted that the Apache design had exhausted its reserves for modernization, and its flight performance characteristics (static and dynamic ceiling) were inferior to the Russian helicopter, which was just starting its combat path.

More recently, in 2002, the Mi-35 (an export version of the Mi-24 with modern avionics) of the DPRK Air Force was "banged" from an ambush by a South Korean Apache. South Korea acknowledged the loss and demanded that the United States carry out a free (!) Modernization of the entire fleet of its Apaches to the Longbow version. They are still judging.

1st place - Black Hawk

Sikorsky UH-60 "Black Hawk" - multi-purpose helicopter
First flight - 1974
Built - 3000 units
Carrying capacity: 1500 kg of cargo and various equipment inside the cargo compartment or up to 4 tons on an external sling. The landing version takes on board 14 fighters.
Combat load of shock vehicles: 2 machine guns, 4 suspension points. The standard weapon system is NURSs, anti-tank Hellfires, containers with 30 mm guns. Naval versions are armed with 324 mm torpedoes and AGM-119 “Penguin” anti-ship missiles.

Without any exaggeration, the Black Hawk is a helicopter of the 21st century, despite the fact that it was created 40 years ago. The multi-purpose army helicopter was intended to replace the Iroquois, while its naval version, the Sea Hawk, was being developed in parallel. The result was a universal platform for all branches of the military, and in terms of the totality of characteristics - the best helicopter in the world.
In addition to the basic land version of the UH-60, there are 2 anti-submarine versions SH-60B “Sea Hawk” and SH-60F “Ocean Hawk” (equipped with a magnetometer and a descending sonar station), the HH-60 “Rescue Hawk” helicopter for combat search and rescue and special operations, as well as a line of MH-60 "Knighthawk" models, including carrier-based helicopters, fire support helicopters, special operations vehicles, ambulance versions, jammers, etc. Sometimes they are used as staff helicopters for high-ranking officials and generals. Actively exported.

good appliances

The Black Hawk is saturated to the limit with high-tech equipment, which places high demands on the maintenance personnel and does not allow it to be stored outside the hangar for a long time.
The military plans to make the MH-60 a single type of helicopter for all branches of the military and fleet, which should radically reduce costs and simplify maintenance. With his appearance, he replaced the army "Iroquois" and the sea "Seasprite". Now the Black Hawk successfully duplicates the tasks of transport helicopters and fire support helicopters, replaces sea ​​minesweepers MH-53 and SH-3 “Sea King” heavy helicopters.

Conclusion

There are exactly 10 places in the top ten. But why didn’t the iconic Ka-50 Black Shark helicopter make it into the rating? Do American experts not even suspect the existence of this machine. Despite the excellent flight characteristics and unsurpassed maneuverability, only 15 Sharks were produced, the Ka-50 never went beyond the experimental machine. The American AH-56 Cheyenne, an infernal rotorcraft, did not make it into the rating, compared to which all existing Cobras and Apaches are ugly ducklings. On tests, the car showed a speed of more than 400 km / h! Alas, only 10 Cheyennes were produced and the helicopter never hit the troops.
It remains only to summarize - the advanced design and excellent flight performance characteristics do not make the car the best yet. Much more important is its mass appearance in the troops (which allows you to quickly test the car in all modes and cure "childhood diseases" that any design suffers from) and the correct tactics of use.

In 2017, the US Army will test a new generation of helicopters

In the United States, two new generation combat helicopters are being prepared for testing in 2017, made taking into account all the existing achievements in the field of high technologies. Both helicopters will become faster and have a greater range than any of the competitors.
The US Army is considering two new high-tech military rotorcraft projects: the Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor tiltrotor (Valor) and the Sikorsky and Boeing SB-1 Defiant (Daring) coaxial pusher helicopter. Flight tests of both machines are scheduled for 2017, American military commentator Chris Osborne wrote in Warrior. This will be their first official test in the US Army.

Aircraft V-280 VALOR: combat tiltrotor

They are capable of flying faster and farther than any currently existing combat and transport helicopters and operate in the most difficult climatic conditions, says Osborne.
New helicopters were created during the JMR TD (Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator, Sample of a single multi-purpose machine), which, in turn, is part of a program to create aircraft of the future with vertical takeoff(Future Vertical Lift, FVL), capable of replacing the famous Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk and Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters, which are now in service with the US Army. A new fleet of combat and transport helicopters is expected to be created by 2030.
“The creation of two different high-tech, future-oriented helicopters is already well under way. Ground testing will take place in 2016 and initial flight testing is planned for 2017,” confirmed JMR Program Director Dan Bailey.
According to him, the creation of helicopters is on schedule, "in strict accordance with the cooperation plans of co-executors."
According to the tactical and technical requirements for new vehicles, their cruising speed should exceed 500 km / h, and the combat radius should be more than 400 km.
Next-generation helicopters will also be able to operate in difficult weather conditions.
“We have set a speed requirement of at least 500 km/h as this requires the use of new technologies. In accordance with it, engineers and designers have put forward a lot of breakthrough ideas,” Bailey said.
A faster and more agile helicopter, which can fly far longer without mid-air refueling, would allow US Army units to more effectively hit enemy targets or deliver small mobile special forces teams to the scene, he said.
The new helicopter will be designed with the latest advances in the field of avionics in order to timely detect the enemy and use next-generation weapons, describe the requirements for a combat vehicle in the Pentagon.
“We need technologies and projects that are significantly different from what we have today. The new helicopters will carry more equipment and weapons, will be more maneuverable and will perform combat missions with a greater range,” said FVL Project Manager Rich Kretschmaer.

SB-1 Defiant multipurpose helicopter prototype

Bell Helicopter's next year will demonstrate to the US Army the third-generation V-280 Valor combat tiltrotor.
A tiltrotor is an aircraft with rotary bladed propellers, which, during takeoff and landing, work as lifting, according to the principle of a helicopter, and in horizontal flight, as pulling, while the lifting force is provided by an aircraft-type wing.
The V-280 was created taking into account the experience of designing and operating the first-generation XV-3 and XV-15 convertiplanes, as well as the BA 609 civilian tiltrotor that followed them and the first serial military tiltrotor V-22 Osprey of the second generation.
“Unlike the V-22, the propellers of which tilted along with the engines, the V-280 engines are fixed in a horizontal position, and the transition between helicopter and airplane modes is carried out by tilting the propellers alone,” explained Gazeta.Ru, deputy director of the Analysis Center strategies and technologies Konstantin Makienko.
The wing of the V-280 is forward-swept, not reverse-swept, as is the case with the V-22. It will be produced as a single piece using Large Cell Carbon Core technology to reduce structural weight and manufacturing costs. This technology also allows you to quickly identify defects that occur during operation. The tiltrotor fuselage will also be made of composite materials. The V-280 Valor is designed with a V-tail and a triple redundant remote control system.
The crew of the V-280 consists of four people. The tiltrotor can carry up to 11 passengers on board.
The combat radius of the tiltrotor, previously named by Bell, is 926 km. Ferry flight range - 3889 km. Load capacity - 4500 kg.
The power plant consists of two General Electric T 64-419 engines with a capacity of 5000 hp. from.
Another promising machine is the SB1 Defiant multi-purpose helicopter with coaxial rotors and pusher tail rotors. The project is based on the Sikorsky X2 demonstrator, which also became the basis for the promising attack helicopter S-97 Raider.
Unlike the strike version, the SB1 Defiant is designed to carry out transport operations, landing troops, performing search and rescue operations, and evacuating the wounded from the battlefield. The helicopter in the future may enter service with the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
It is expected that the helicopter may begin to enter the troops as early as 2018 and by 2030 will completely replace the obsolete, according to the US military, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
The JMR / FVL program involves the integration in advanced combat vehicles of a wide range of the latest sensors, weapons and aviation electronics, which provide for the possibility remote control in cases where the pilot is incapacitated by injury or killed, Warrior explained officials Pentagon.
The JMR TD / FVL project documents describe the tasks of developing a human-machine interface with the automatic execution of a large number of a wide variety of functions in order to unload the pilot and crew to take on more important tasks during a sortie.
For example, it is planned to introduce technologies on advanced convertiplanes that assist the pilot in making this or that decision, to organize and prioritize all information entering the cockpit, to optimize visual, 3D, audio and other information signals. Convertiplane pilots will be able to receive video from nearby unmanned aerial vehicles and control these drones during the flight. Part of the information can be shown in the helicopter cockpit, and part can be displayed in the pilots' helmets.
According to representatives of the US Army, promising helicopters are expected to integrate measures to counter various types of enemy weapons - from small arms to man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Among such technologies is the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) - a high-tech laser jammer capable of deflecting incoming enemy missiles from the course.
CIRCM is an improved version of the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system currently deployed on US Air Force aircraft. The completion date of the CIRCM system is 2018. By 2030, even more advanced technologies are expected to be used.
The new helicopter program involves the creation of new technologies for night vision devices for pilots, thermal imagers, electro-optical sensors, the improvement of laser rangefinders and laser designators.
In accordance with the JMR, helicopters are designed to combine weapons and reconnaissance for the future use of helicopters in a fully autonomous mode, when the vehicle will independently detect, track and fire a large number of targets in sharp maneuvers, correcting for wind and other conditions.

Since the advent of helicopters, the scope of their operation has become very extensive. They are great for delivering various kinds of cargo or evacuating the wounded, as well as for delivering accurate and lightning strikes against the enemy. Our review presents 19 of the most best models military transport helicopters around the world.

1. Attack helicopter - McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache is the main attack helicopter of the United States Army and has been in service since the mid-1980s. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed aircraft can reach 293 kilometers per hour. The presented sample weighs approximately 5165 kilograms. It is 18 meters long and has a wingspan of 15 meters.

2. Multi-purpose helicopter - Westland Lynx

Westland Lynx

3. Attack helicopter - Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne

Westland Lynx- This is a British multi-purpose helicopter, which was created by two companies Westland and Aerospatiale. The model made its first flight on March 21, 1971, and entered service at the end of 1978. The maximum allowable flight speed is 324 kilometers per hour. The length of this model reaches 15 m, and the wingspan is 13 meters.

4. Multi-purpose helicopter - Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche

Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche- This is an American multi-purpose reconnaissance and attack helicopter, which made its first flight on January 4, 1996. The model weighs approximately 4218 kilograms, while its maximum flight speed reaches 324 kilometers per hour. One fully filled tank is enough for about 2220 km. The length of the presented aircraft is 14 m, and the wingspan is 12 meters.

5. Multi-purpose helicopter - Ka-60 Kasatka

Ka-60 Kasatka- This is a Russian multi-purpose military transport helicopter, the length of which is 16 m, and the wingspan is 14 meters. This model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 308 km per hour. One fully filled tank is enough for an aircraft for approximately 615 kilometers.

6. Attack helicopter - Mi-24

Mi-24- This is a Soviet / Russian attack helicopter developed at the Moscow plant named after M. L. Mil. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 335 kilometers per hour. The length of the model is approximately 18 m, and the wingspan is 6.5 meters. The model made its first flight in 1969. The cost of the Mi-24 is approximately 12 million US dollars.

7. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-26

Mi-26- This is a Soviet heavy multi-purpose transport helicopter, developed at the Moscow plant named after M. L. Mil. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 295 kilometers per hour. This sample weighs 28 tons, and it is about 40 meters long, while the flight range from one fully filled tank is approximately 800 km. The cost of the Mi-26 is about 18 million US dollars.

8. Attack helicopter - Agusta A129 Mangusta

Agusta A129 Mangusta is an attack helicopter developed by the Italian company Agusta. The presented model weighs 2.5 tons, while the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 352 kilometers per hour. Length this sample approximately 14 meters, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 510 km. He made his first flight on September 15, 1983. Agusta A129 Mangusta costs about 22 million US dollars.

9. Attack helicopter - Bell AH-1Z Viper

Bell AH-1Z Viper is an American attack helicopter based on the Bell AH-1 Super Cobra. The presented model weighs 5.5 tons, while the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 411 kilometers per hour. The length of this sample is approximately 18 meters, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 685 km. He made his first flight on December 8, 2000. The Bell AH-1Z Viper costs about $31 million.

10. Military transport helicopter - Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Boeing CH-47 Chinook- This is a heavy military transport helicopter of the longitudinal scheme. In the army of the United States of America, it replaced the CH-54 model and has been widely used since the early 1960s, being exported to 16 countries around the world. The length of this sample is approximately 30 meters. He made his first flight in 1962. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook costs about $35 million.

11. Multi-purpose helicopter - Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Bell UH-1 "Iroquois"- This is an American multi-purpose helicopter created by Bell Helicopter Textron. It is one of the most famous and massive machines in the history of helicopter construction. Serial production began in 1960. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine. He made his first flight on October 20, 1956, and was put into operation at the end of 1959.

12. Attack helicopter - Denel AH-2 Rooivalk

Denel AH-2 Rooivalk is a South African attack helicopter manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems. This model weighs about 5,730 kilograms, while the flight range from one fully filled tank reaches about 740 kilometers. The maximum permissible speed of the model is approximately 309 km / h. The aircraft made its first flight in 1990. The Denel AH-2 Rooivalk costs approximately $40 million.

13. Attack helicopter - Eurocopter Tiger

Eurocopter Tiger is a modern attack helicopter developed by the Franco-German consortium Eurocopter. This model weighs about 3060 kilograms, while the flight range from one fully filled tank reaches about 800 kilometers. The maximum allowed speed of the model is approximately 230 km/h. The aircraft made its first flight in April 1990.

14. Attack helicopter - Ka-52 "Alligator"

Ka-52 "Alligator"- This is a Russian attack helicopter that is capable of hitting armored vehicles, manpower and air targets on the battlefield. It is a modernized version of the Ka-50 "Black Shark" model.

15. Attack helicopter - CAIC WZ-10

CAIC WZ-10- This is an attack helicopter manufactured by the People's Republic of China. Developed with the participation of Russian scientists and specialists. Adopted by the PLA in February 2011. The model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 300 km/h. It weighs about 5540 kilograms, while the flight range from one fully filled tank is 820 kilometers. The sample made its first flight on April 29, 2003.

16. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-2

Mi-2- This is a Soviet multi-purpose helicopter developed by OKB M. L. Mil in the early 1960s. In 1965, mass production was launched in Poland. It is widely used to perform many civil and military tasks. Its length is 11m, and its wingspan is 14m. The model is equipped with a powerful GTD-350 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 200 kilometers per hour.

17. Attack helicopter - Ka-50

Ka-50- This is a Soviet / Russian single-seat attack helicopter designed to destroy armored and mechanized vehicles, air targets and manpower on the battlefield. Its length is 16m, and its wingspan is 14m. The model is equipped with a powerful TV3-117 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 390 kilometers per hour. He made his first flight on June 17, 1982. The Ka-50 costs about 16 million US dollars.

18. Multipurpose helicopter - Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk- This is an American multi-purpose helicopter that entered service with the United States Army, replacing the previous Bell UH-1 model. The maximum allowable flight speed of this aircraft is 294 kilometers per hour. Its length reaches 20 m, and the wingspan is 16 meters. The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk costs approximately $21 million.

19. Multi-purpose helicopter - Mi-8

Mi-8- This is a Soviet / Russian multi-purpose helicopter developed at the Moscow plant named after M.L. Mile. It is the most massive twin-engine helicopter in the world. The presented model is equipped with a powerful gas turbine engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 260 kilometers per hour. The length of the model is approximately 18m, and the wingspan is 21 meters. The model made its first flight in 1967.

And aircraft lovers will surely be interested to look at these

One of the official pictures of the Bell V-280 Valor

The American company Bell Helicopter among the helicopter manufacturers is something like in the world of cars. She makes a great innovative design, which then becomes a classic. For example, the AH-1 Cobra model became the first combat helicopter in history, and the multi-purpose UH-1 Iroquois is familiar to you from a good hundred Hollywood films.

Bell AH-1 Cobra entered service in 1967, but still looks futuristic. Surprisingly, this is the world's first purpose-designed combat helicopter.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois is one of the most famous and mass models in the history of helicopter industry. Adopted by the US Army in 1959

Recently, we talked about Bell, which opened the company's eyes to the future. But even today's developments, as it turned out, are generously stuffed with advanced solutions.

In the state of Texas, the tests of the tiltrotor (it's still not a helicopter!) V-280 Valor are in full swing. The US is reportedly looking to spend $100 billion (I wonder how many BelAZs are in cash?) on a program to replace the Boeing AH-64 Apache and Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with new VTOL aircraft. So, the Bell V-280 Valor is the very devices.

But if the Blackhawk is a multi-purpose helicopter (a rather large transport helicopter, on which you can hang so many weapons that it will choke on a combat one), then the Apache is an attack helicopter. It was created to bring democracy, destruction and death, and not wounded "seals" to the hospital. And how will Valor replace both?

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache (also manufactured by Boeing and Hughes corporations - a common practice in the US military) - the main attack helicopter of the US Army since the mid-1980s

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is operated by a crew of three and is capable of carrying 11 combatants or 6 bedridden casualties. The helicopter has been in operation since 1979.

Spotters report various modifications of the tiltrotor seen during testing. But the main thing is that the characteristics really allow the Valor to perform the tasks of completely different types of helicopters. Because he is not a helicopter.

A tiltrotor is capable of taking off vertically and hovering in the air like a helicopter, but in flight, when its propellers are turned horizontally, it is comparable to an airplane in speed and range, and aircraft-type wings provide lift.

Now the US Army is already operating the Bell V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, and the V-280 Valor will become it further development. If the V-22's engines themselves turn, then the Valor's only screws, which makes the design simpler and more reliable.

Bell V-22 Osprey has been in service since 2005. Rotary motors are not its only feature. Approximately 70% (by weight) tiltrotor is made of composite materials, which significantly reduces its weight.

The wings of the Valor are made of carbon fiber, most of the fuselage is made of composites. The declared speed is 520 km/h. For comparison: the maximum speed of both the Blackhawk and the Apache is about 300 km/h. At the same time, the so-called "ferry range" for all three cars is comparable and exceeds 2000 km. On Board Valor takes 4 crew members and 14 fighters - more than Blackhawk! But for landing, he hardly needs more space than the old UH-1 helicopter ... Of course, any unprepared site will do: everything that a helicopter can do, Valor can do.

I would like to be happy for American engineers, although relations between Russia and the United States, frankly, have been better. And what can we expect now if such a cool thing is about to be at the disposal of the army of the “probable enemy”? Of course, the appearance of "Vailor" in "Transformers" and other action films, as well as in stores in the form of children's toys and prefabricated models.

What did you think? That an American tiltrotor will one day hover over your house and ruin your Sunday football game? Oh no. Unlike the carbon fenders, wire-by-wire controls and pivot propellers, this is fantastic.