Forum: Rotary Wing Aircraft

Ok, seems a little strange to me given the history. Why wouldn't we use some jets that could get in and out fast. Does an attack helicopter offer something more than say an F-16 in this situation?

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Helicopters? I thought an AC-130 performed the strike. Did you see 'gunship' and immediately think helicopter?

When used, helicopters will give you the chance to be a bit slower and control the attack a bit more precise but you are extremely vulnerable and can take serious damage fast.

The armor is nothing like what is really needed (least it never used to be). They will do an amazing job in a tight squeeze when needed, new choppers are fast but still, I feel the dangers still out weight there use for large scale attacks.

The fast movers deliver more punch and of course, not so easy to hit these days but as we all know, it is still very possible to take them down.

You gotta respect those gunships though, not a fast mover but digs up the landscape very fast and accurately. Hell'va a job done by those folks in the last few days, hit them harder I say. Salute

Yes, it was the Spooky, as Lasse said.

The reason they used them is that, as Meathook said, they deliver a bigger punch. The AC-130 has mortars, miniguns and other heavy weaponry on it (and cheaper than, say, a JDAM or an LGB), advanced integrated sensors and have a big loiter time, allowing for better placing the attack, as well as better BDA (I suppose), in such an environment, where few intel exists. A jet is better for precision strikes on buildings, pinpointed targets of hight value etc. and not for mowing down an area in order to be sure you got 'em.

A big well done from here, and may stability and peace return to that troubled place soon.

all the major sites are reporting that the first attack was the spooky but the next days attacks were from helicopter gunships. I'm assuming cobras from the carrier group?

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,1 ... html?wh=wh

Does Ethiopia have attack choppers?

Not that I am aware of (could be wrong), least not there's but we could have staged a few there in preparation for this attack.

no, ethiopia as in the ethiopian air force

I know what you meant but I don't think so (I done see them on my worldwide munitions listing) we have one for each country globally (type aircraft, munitions etc)...but you never know, maybe a purchase came from some "other" country.

Last edited by snypa777 on Jan 10, 2007 - 02:13 PM; edited 1 time in total

akruse21 wrote:

all the major sites are reporting that the first attack was the spooky but the next days attacks were from helicopter gunships. I'm assuming cobras from the carrier group?

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,1 ... html?wh=wh

Does Ethiopia have attack choppers?

Ethiopian air force attack choppers...

2 KA-50`s
16 Mi-24`s
5 Alouette III`s

Front line jets...

4 Canberra
20 MiG-17
28 MiG-21
19 MiG-23
26 F-5
2 Su-25
8 Su-27
17 MiG-29

Don`t know how many are serviceable but they have used their SU-27s very effectively as bombers and scored some notable kills on Eritrean Mig-29s`

Yep...nothing the US sold them anyway.....(thank goodness)

Well, they operated the F-5a for a while, way back.

Think the US stopped supplying them arms in 1977, then the Russians and Chinese took over arms sales...

snypa777 wrote:

akruse21 wrote:

all the major sites are reporting that the first attack was the spooky but the next days attacks were from helicopter gunships. I'm assuming cobras from the carrier group?

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,1 ... html?wh=wh

Does Ethiopia have attack choppers?

Ethiopian air force attack choppers...

2 KA-50`s
16 Mi-24`s
5 Alouette III`s

Front line jets...

4 Canberra
20 MiG-17
28 MiG-21
19 MiG-23
26 F-5
2 Su-25
8 Su-27
17 MiG-29

Don`t know how many are serviceable but they have used their SU-27s very effectively as bombers and scored some notable kills on rebel Mig-29s`

Pretty sure the Ka-50 is from a dubious source, that helicopter is not in production, not even the Russians have more than one and they made it!

Nice photo, I wonder if any of those parts are usable these days, we have a few MICAPS and could CANN them once the conflict is over Smile

Thanks LASSE, after some digging, it seems there were reports that the KA-50 was used and flown by Russian pilots against Eritrean columns. These reports have since been discredited it seems...Didn`t Russia use 2 prototype Ka-50s in Chechnya?? You are right though, the Russians don`t have it in production according to Globalsecurity.org...

MEATHOOK, think those F-5s would just be rusting skeletons in the desert by now, pity.

I know, I was just fooling around...good target practice though

Forum: Rotary Wing Aircraft

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