Shipbucket

What do you want your helicopter to do? You've mainly listed attack helicopters so I presume that's what you want, but if you're a middling nation then you're not likely to be able to afford them.
Attack helicopters are a niche product and an extremely expensive one at that. That's why most nations much less focused designs for in the attack role since they'll also be able to pull all sorts of other duties. Hence why Lynx became so popular.

Thiel wrote:What do you want your helicopter to do? You've mainly listed attack helicopters so I presume that's what you want, but if you're a middling nation then you're not likely to be able to afford them.

I know, but in all fairness he doesn't appear to be asking that.

Longbow forever dudes!

Pass me an Igla and I will change your mind.

Well by middle i was kinda thinking of nations such as Turkey which I know aren't really middle but aren't like the US in military spending neither is South Africa. But Turkey and South Africa have attack helicopters
I may come back with an actual set of requirements soon but not sure
I was expecting Apache to be the favorite shocked that the Ka-50/Ka-52 is getting as much votes as it is

Mi24, too hateful to pass up.

the Ka-50 / 52... technically the peak, and all the levels!

Electronics can largely be improved, but there is no doubt that it has large capacity
It is the only helicopter which has an ejection seat
its manoeuvrability is huge, its cargo of weapons is largely sufficient

After the second helicopter that I find very well, it is the AgustaWestland AW101/EH-101
switching capabilities are also very impressive
and for a helicopter transport and anti-submarine warfare, It is a very well designed helicopter

I'm not going to give one straight vote for a couple of reasons. Firstly the Ka-52 is most definitely a very promising design, I'd prefer if it had an under-fuselage gun instead of the side-mounted arrangement it has currently no matter how good the manoeuvrability of the helicopter is. A GSh-301 or similar if it's maintaining Russian weapon systems would suffice. Secondly I think for a traditional gunship the AH-1 platform still offers a lot. Take the AH-1Z, give it an XM-188 (30mm x113 M197) or better yet a BK-27, as well as the change away from the M-197 I'd investigate the possibility of integrating Longbow or a LIDAR equivalent capable of working with Hellfire or Spike.

In summary:
A westernized Ka-52 or equivalent design

• RTM322 Mk.250 turboshafts replacing the Klimov TV-3s
• Under-fuselage 27mm/30mm cannon (BK-27, GIAT 30 etc) replacing the side mounted 2A42 for better azimuthal coverage
• Longer, fixed undercarriage to facilitate the new cannon
• BERP IV blades and western avionic systems

An 'Ultra Cobra'

• Keep the T700s that are on the AH-1Z either the same model or more powerful models depending on the customer's location
• Replace the M197 with something more accurate and harder hitting like a BK-27
• Integrate Spike-ER and Spike NLOS as an alternative to hellfire, ditto CRV7/CRV7 PG
• Mast mounted LIDAR / mmW fire control system like Longbow or a laser equivalent
• BERP IV blades again

And for a further wildcard, what about an export WZ-10 as a base airframe for you to upgrade like I did with Atlantia? If we're talking off-the-shelf helicopters with no mods to them from factory I'm liable to say the Apache, it's combat proven in numerous conflicts and should remain viable for some time.


~ Mark.

I believe the AH-1Z already has Longbow mmW integrated into it.