SANTIAGO -- The Chilean Army has expressed interest in acquiring AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters secondhand from the U.S. The news follows word from the U.S. government in January 2018 that it intends to sell AH-1Ws that have been retired by the U.S. Marine Corps.
The AH-1W is an upgraded AH-1T model fitted with T700-GE-401 engines and an uprated transmission (2,032 hp, compared with the AH-1T's 1,970-hp transmission). New features included a crashworthy fuel system, a vibration suppression system, a new avionics package including a head-up display (HUD), defensive equipment including APR-39 and APR-44 radar warning receivers, an ALQ-144 infrared jammer, ALE-39 dispensers for chaff and flares, and active radio jammers. Bell upgraded 41 AH-1Ts to the AH-1W configuration. In addition, the Marines procured 142 new-production AH-1Ws, receiving the last of them in 1998.
There are now an estimated 20 up for sale on the secondhand market.
Brazil has also expressed an interest in acquiring at least some of the helicopters. If both countries eventually do decide to acquire the aircraft, they will need to work out an agreement to split the batch, or a bidding war may ensue.
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