Frequently hold military exercises near Iran’s external “Sword”, and made public a variety of new weapons to demonstrate defense hard power, which one called “Storm” helicopter gunship is especially noteworthy. Israeli media that the armed Iran, despite the US-made helicopters “Cobra” helicopter “cottage Edition”, but its operational performance is worse than than the original.
Batch-grown direct military service
Iran’s navy on May 5 starting at the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, an 8-day large-scale military exercises. According to Iranian television network reported on May 6th, the day after exercise (6), a group of “Cobra” helicopter gunship flying field exercise in southern Iran, followed by the “enemy” surface and underwater targets in a simulated attack, beautiful completion of a tactical mission. However, field exercises in the future, these “Cobra” helicopters will be armed Iranian-made helicopters replaced.
According to “Tehran Times” revealed in a few days ago, the Iranian navy official received 10 domestic “crisis” armed helicopter, the helicopter’s short wings can be mounted rockets and anti-tank missiles and equipped with multi-screen display and advanced communication systems. In addition, application of a new composite propeller helicopter’s service life is also greatly increased. Iranian Defense Minister Vahidi the “Storm” helicopter satisfied, he said: “This is the (Iranian) weapons domestically made great progress, but also for national defense and aviation industry a great honor gain.”
“Knockoff” impressive combat capability
Iran has always hoped to raise the level of domestic production of main battle weapon, while the imitation of the United States and Europe and equipment on hand has become a good shortcut. In the eyes of some Western experts and the media, these “knockoff” is not good. However, according to Israeli intelligence network of Dai Boka, although Iran is the U.S. made helicopter gunships Bell AH-1K “Sea Cobra” helicopter was developed from the parent type, but has a brand new improvements.
Western military experts, Iran released under the picture of the view that the Iranian-made helicopter gunships A/A49E type turret equipped with an inner diameter 20 mm “Gatling” type to bore guns, short wings can be mounted rocket launchers, 70 mm diameter nest and two anti-tank missile launchers, so have a fairly good ability on the ground suppression. In addition, the “storm” of cockpit integrated GPS system, installation of a tail warning radar, which shows that aircraft in the electronic system considerably. In short, this “knockoff” fully meet the operational needs.
Can be used to block the Persian Gulf
Iran believes that, once the conflict with the United States or Israel, if you can master the control of Persian Gulf war initiative. As aircraft and surface ships behind too much, Iran has been counting on “asymmetric tactics” to make up, but ships with speedboats raided advanced very difficult, and armed helicopters in the speed and penetration capacity of more advantage in combat can control a large area in the sea. Iran will “Storm” helicopter equipped with the Navy may be out of this consideration.
Iran has been able to mass production “of advanced anti-tank missiles”, “storm” another helicopter made a higher rate, outside the view that a large number of equipment after the helicopter, attack helicopter fleet with Iran may strengthen the control on the Persian Gulf, and deter hostile vessels. Shortly after the exercise in Iran, the Western media could see more intense “storm.”
