Armed helicopter is truly offensive weaponry, so it also be called attacking helicopter. Its birth makes military helicopters get to the forefront of fightings from the back line of battlefield’s logistics. And the "Dove of Peace" that does not have the force of attack has became "Eagle" that fighting with its prey.
American AH-64 "Apache"
H-64 armed helicopter manufactured by Jimmy Dow Aircraft Company which is U.S. Army's main two-seater armed helicopter currently. In 1989, the United States invaded panama when H-64 was put into combat the first time. AH-64 and AH-64D had played an important part in many combats including Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq. AH-64 proved to be excellent tank hunter and had destroyed hundreds of armored vehicles that were mainly from the Iraqi army.
Armament: An XM-230-E1-type 30 mm cannon with 1200 spare cannonballs. Its hardpoints can carry 16 "Hellfire" missiles or 4 Rocket launching nests with 19 tubes which means 76 rockets with 70 mm calibers. Dimension data: rotor diameter is 14.63 meters, tail rotor diameter is 2.77 m, body length is 17.76 meters, the height is 3.52 m (to the tail) or 4.30 m (to tail rotor) , the short wingspan is 5.23 m. Weight data: empty weight is 5092 kg, maximum take-off weight is 9525 kg, the maximum external load weight is 771 kg. Performance data: the maximum even flight speed is 365 km / h, cruising speed is 293 km / h, the maximum climbing speed is 12.7 m / s (sea levels), service ceiling is 6400 m, the range is 482 km, the maximum flight time is 3 hours and 9 minutes.
American RAH-66 "Comanche"
In 1982, U.S. Army proposed LHX (Light Helicopter Experimental Plan) and it is numbered RAH-66 Officially in April 1991. If it joined the U.S. military finally, it would be the first stealth helicopter designed specially for 24-hour armed reconnaissance among all the American helicopters execute tasks such as armed reconnaissance, anti-tank and air combat etc. However, “Comanche” project had been troubled with problems of funding overruns and R & D extension over the years. And U.S. faced a issue of transformation after the Cold War. So, U.S. Army announced to cancel Comanche helicopter program in 2004.
American AH-1 "Cobra"
AH-1 "Cobra" is the dedicated armed helicopter of U.S. Army which currently mainly is used to equip Air Cavalry Squadron in the division level of the ground forces. AH-1 Used the layout of streamlined narrow fuselage and tandem cockpit. Its flight speed is fast and the acreage can be struck by a bullet is small which guaranteed a strong maneuvering capability. Then it equipped with advanced weapon system and has a great capability of armor protection and viability. AH-1 after improvement had the ability to launch the TOW missile under conditions of night, limited interference and harsh weather.
Russian Mi-28 "Havoc"
Mi-28 attack helicopters is a new helicopter developed by Soviet Union in the late 1970s. The wing paddles made by composite materials and use leaf design that has a good aerodynamic performance to get greater lifting power. It equipped with two turboshaft engines which has an ability of hedgehopping. Airborne weapons is a 23 mm cannon that can be loaded with 16 AT-6 anti-tank missiles and 4 to 8 infrared guided variant SA-14 air to air missiles.
Russian Ka-50/52
Compared with other active duty armed helicopters, Ka-50 owns the following world record: The world's first armed helicopter using a single cockpit; The first armed helicopter using coaxial rotor reversal; The first armed helicopter equipped with ejection seats. Its sister Ka-52 not only has the same weapons and capabilities of low-altitude flight, armor protection with Ka-50 but also excellent capabilities of reconnaissance, command and control. It can provide services that is like a command aircraft for airborne warning.
Russian Mi-24 "Doe"
Mi-24 was designed by Miri Designing Bureau which had unique appearance, strong firepower, can carriage the infantry to the front with heavy weaponry. There is no another armed helicopter have the same skill so far. Mi-24 has seven different models which has a more than 2500 production. These were more than 20 countries choose to use its. Speed over the sea level exceeds the later AH－64. It was called "female deer" in NATO forces.
European "tiger"
The "Tiger" armed helicopter developed by European Helicopter Company which had two types mainly: fire supporting type and anti-tank type. It can be divided into 3 types in detail. They were French fire supporting type HAP, anti-tank type EHAC and German anti-tank type PAH-2. Compared with the apache it had many advantages such as small dimensions, good feature of wide stealth, high mobility and flexible combat and it was not easy to be found out for the all-optical detection system. In addition, it was economical and need less maintenance fees.
Italian A-129 "Mongoose"
Italian main battle helicopter A129 of the Army Air Force which was a kind of light dedicated armed helicopters and nicknamed " Mongoose ". The number of all the models produced was not more than 60 and had not participated in a combat formally. The guristas company has been trying bring a plan of upgrading and retrofitting into force for A129 which had attracted tremendous attention in the market of military helicopters. Turkey, Australia and other countries have expressed interest in new A129. And the guristas seized the opportunity to name the new A129 after upgrading as international "mongoose".
France SA341 "Gazelle"
The developing plan of "Gazelle" put forward by the French initially used to replace "Lark II". Its flight performance is very good and it had been ordered by many military and civilian customers from various countries soon used in a wide variety of fields from anti-tank to traffic monitoring. The "Gazelle" had a rich experience of actual combat. "Gazelle" of British had participated in the falklands war. The french type accompanied AMX-10RC wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles had participated in the Gulf War. And the model in Iraqi had participated in the Iran-Iraq war.
South Africa "Stone kestrel"
South Africa CSH-2 Rooivalk "rock kestrel" had developed by the South African Atlas. Its main task is close air support and anti-tank, anti-artillery and convoy under the high threat of a variety of Soviet-made SAMs. From the whole, CSH-2 "rock kestrel" had reached the world advanced level and its most indicators were equal with AH-64, Mi-28 and "Tiger" helicopter made by France and Germany. Currently, South Africa is vigorously marketing CSH-2 helicopters outward.