Helicopter gunship

   

A helicopter gunship is a military helicopter armed for attacking targets on the ground, especially with automatic gunfire, but often also with rockets and/or missiles. Actually, nowdays Air-to-Ground Missiles (AGMs) such as the AGM-114 Hellfire are the most often used weapon system mostly due to the increased threat level on the modern battlefield (manportable Surface-to-Air Missiles aka:SAMs) and the high-tech armor used by tanks, an attack helicopter's primary target.

The first example of the Helicopter Gunship was used during the French Algeria Campaign, during the 1960's. They armed a Piasecki H-21 with rockets.

During Vietnam, the US saw a need for Helicopters to be used as aerial artillery to support ground troops, closer to the battle. The US Army used a UH-1, and put machine guns, and folding fin rockets on struts parallel with the fuselage. This configuration worked well, but the Army felt that they needed a purpose built aircraft, and the AH-1 was developed with a slender fuselage to make the aircraft a small target, among other improvements.

During the same period Russia, then the Soviet Union, saw the same need and equipped Mil Mi-8's in a similar configuration as the US Army UH-1's. This was eventually developed into the famous Mi-24 Hind.

During the 1990's the US used Gunship Helicopters extensively during Operation Desert Storm. AH-64's were used the fire the first shots of the war, destroying SAM sites, with their Hellfire missiles. They were later used successfully in both their operational roles, as direct attack against enemy armor, and as aerial artillery in support of gunships.

The gunship was developed to it's current form, in particular the AH-64D which some feel is the pinnacle of a high technology gunship, at least until stealth is fully brought over the rotary wing aviation. The Russians are currently deploying the Ka-50, and Mi-28, but at a command and control system level, they aren't as linked with ground troops as current American equipment. Which many feel is a requirement, since they are considered as support elements by most of the Armies of the world.

During USSOCOM has been developing the armed special forces gunship using the MH-60. To be used as an attack element, with Special Operators to do the clean up, or to deliver the operators, and support them on the ground. They were used successfully (to the chagrin of CINC CENTCOM) during the Scud Hunt.

The US Army typically uses observation helicopters (such as the OH-58, and H-6) in support of gunship helicopters. But it is starting to fall out of favor as the gunships are getting as sophisticated, or better systems than the observation helicopters deployed to support them.

Modern examples include:


es:helicóptero artillado

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