Planning To Fail: Building Aircraft Dependent Upon LASER

Abstract : After serving Marine Corps aviation faithfully for 18 years, it's time for the Cobra to get a facelift. 280 AH-1W airframes will be remanufactured to theoretically new 0-hour aircraft with significant upgrades. The replacement--the AH-1Z (Zulu) model--will use a newer, smarter missile rack capable of launching both Hellfire II missiles and the Joint Common Missile (JCM) . Although still under development, the JCM will be capable of targeting using imaging infrared, semi-active laser, and millimeter wave (MMW) radar. The JOM will provide great methods of targeting on an open battlefield, but in the urban environment the JCM will have serious shortfalls. Additionally, while the Zulu will achieve initial operational capability in 200E', the JCM will not be fielded until at least 20082 (assuming it arrives on schedule) . Ironically, without a direct-fire weapon that is capable of targeting in an urban environment, such as the TOW missile, the AH-1Z will be a less capable helicopter than the AH-1W.