US delivers Cobra gunships to Pakistan

The US has delivered a squadron of 14 AH-1 Cobra advanced helicopter gunships to Pakistan, reported a private TV channel on Tuesday. The US has also given $750,000 to update Pakistan Army Aviations fleet of Cobra variants like AH-1S, AH-1F. The AH-1 has been supplied by the US from its Jordan Air Base stock. Pakistan has also been assured it would receive the latest AH-1Z variant in phases by 2015. The twin blade, single-engined gunships have a crew of two, comprising a pilot and a co-pilot or a gunner. The helicopter is equipped with two 7.62mm multi-barrel guns, two 40mm guns and grenade launchers and can also be equipped with 70mm rockets. The helicopters, which can fly at a speed of 352 km per hour, weigh 2,754 kilograms.

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