AH-1G Cobra (late production)
The AH-1G combat helicopter is designed as a fire support helicopter. Due to its firepower, the term "air artillery" was often applied to it, which appeared during the Vietnam War. The main armament, mounted on a turret in the nose of the helicopter, was a six-barreled 7.62 mm Minigun machine gun with a clip for 4,000 rounds and a 40 mm M129 grenade launcher with an ammunition load of 300 rounds. Other types of weapons were also used. In 1972, the Vietnamese began using the Soviet Strela portable anti-aircraft system to hit low-flying targets. They were very successful against helicopters, including Cobras. Some helicopters were equipped with a device that diverted the hot gases from the running engine upwards to protect them from the homing warheads mounted on the Arrows. And as practice has shown, it gave the proper effect. The sensitivity of the Strela homing head was insufficient to capture helicopters modified in this way. During the war in Southeast Asia, Cobras demonstrated excellent survivability and proved to be a reliable and powerful ground support aircraft.
