Philippines has been cleared to buy AH-64E and AH-1Z but has no money to buy attack helicopters

Here’s why the USMC deems upgraded versions of the AH-1 Cobra more capable than the AH-64 Apache

By Dario Leone
Dec 26 2021
Share this article

Why didn’t the USMC buy AH-64 Apache helicopters instead of continuing to upgrade AH-1 Cobras?

The AH-1 Cobra is a two-blade rotor, single-engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was developed using the engine, transmission and rotor system of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake.

The AH-1 was the backbone of the US Army’s attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with the militaries of several other nations. The AH-1 (AH-1W Super Cobra and AH-1Z Viper) twin-engine versions remain in service with US Marine Corps (USMC) as the service’s primary attack helicopter.

Why didn’t the USMC buy Apache helicopters instead of continuing to upgrade Cobras?

‘I had this same discussion with a friend of mine that is a Marine Huey crew chief. Turns out the answer is pretty simple, it’s because the Marines still use Huey’s. But the explanation as to why they still use Huey’s goes back a bit,’ Damien Leimbach, Former Avionics Technician at US Air Force, says on Quora.

‘The original cobra was a derivative of the Huey airframe. They used the same engine, transmission, flight controls, rotor blades, tail boom, ect. In fact when first built it was called the “HueyCobra.”

‘This lineage is easy to see with the naked eye, especially the first gen Cobras that had the rounded bubble canopy.

‘Note the similarities in lines and general appearance.

UH-1Y and AH-1Z

‘It made sense for the Army and Marines in the 1960’s to adopt a system that used so many common parts as the Huey they already had in service, as it streamlined supply and training.

‘But the Army and Marines have different missions. The Army’s job is to confront other Armies, who will probably have tanks. During the Cold War it was expected that the US Army would have a confrontation with Warsaw Pact forces in Europe, as a million screaming Soviets would pour through the Fulda gap with their tanks leading the way.

‘The gap was so important that the US alone dedicated the entire V and VII Corps to its exclusive defense, comprising several infantry divisions, several armored divisions, several cavalry regiments and multiple helicopter brigades.’

Leimbach continues;

‘The Army wanted something with more anti-armor punch than what the Cobra could deliver back in the 70’s, and so it paid for the development of the AH-64 Apache to replace it.

AH-64D Apache print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. AH-64D “Longbow Apache” Serial No.99-5135, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq, March 2003.

‘Moving infantry around in Europe required hauling a little more than the Huey could provide as well, so the Army paid for the development of the Blackhawk to replace it.

US Army UH-60 Black Hawk Crash Kills One, Wounds Three

‘The US Air Force also recognized the Fulda gap’s importance, and concentrated its airpower in this corridor, partially distributed amongst small bases in the region.

‘This dedicated anti-armor mission also led to the development of one of the world’s most iconic airplanes, the A-10, specifically designed to confront tanks in Europe.

Father of the iconic A-10 Warthog passes away

‘But wait, isn’t this about the Marines?

‘It is. What you will look for very hard but not find a lot of are Marine bases in Germany or Marine divisions stationed there. That’s because blunting an armored assault across the plains is not their job. Their job is to assault beaches, and to fight from ships to support those beach landings.

‘The Apache could carry a little more and go a little faster than the Cobra, but it was twice the weight of a Cobra and also twice the price. It took up more space on deck and consumed more fuel, and was also more maintenance intensive.

‘It’s a similar story with the Huey and the Blackhawk. A little bigger, a little faster, but much more expensive.

‘More importantly, the Apache was a Hughes (now Boeing) product, and the Blackhawk was from Sikorsky. So, zero parts commonality with each other or either of the two Bell helicopters the Marines already had.’

Leimbach concludes;

‘So, the Marines decided they didn’t need the new toys, and kept upgrading and improving what they had in order to keep the very efficient system of common training, tools and interchangeable parts going. The new models are fantastically lethal, less expensive, and both save space and share parts, dramatically simplifying maintenance and logistics.’

Bell to delivery USMC’s last UH-1Y Venom by end 2018
Possible sale of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters to Bahrain approved

Photo credit: U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

    List of some possible advertising permissions:

    You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices