Huey Cobra - Operators

Operators

For operators of AH-1J, AH-1T, AH-1W, AH-1Z and other twin-engine variants, see Bell AH-1 SuperCobra.

Austria

• Red Bull (Flying Bulls) operates a demilitarized TAH-1F at Salzburg Airport, Austria.

Bahrain

• Bahrain Air Force acquired 24 AH-1Ps and 6 TAH-1P trainers. Bahrain has 10 AH-1Es, 6 AH-1Ps and 6 TAH-1Ps in inventory as of January 2010.

Israel

• Israeli Air Force has 54 AH-1 "Tzefa" צפע ("Viper"), consisting of 5 AH-1G, 30 AH-1S, 6 AH-1E, and 13 AH-1F variants in inventory as of January 2010.

Japan

• Japan Ground Self-Defense Force received 2 AH-1Es for exhaustive evaluation. 89 AH-1S Cobras were license-manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries from 1984 to 2000. Has 84 AH-1S Cobras in use as of January 2010. JGSDF uses AH-1S Step 3 that were roughly equivalent the United States Army's AH-1Fs. The engine is the T53-K-703 turboshaft, which Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced under license.

Jordan

• Jordanian Air Force received 24 AH-1Ss and 9 AH-1Fs. Jordan has 22 AH-1S and 9 AH-1F Cobras in use as of January 2010.

Pakistan

• Pakistan Army received 20 AH-1S Cobras in the 1980s (later upgraded to AH-1F) and ordered more AH-1Fs in 2004. Pakistan has 18 AH-1S and 8 AH-1F Cobras in use as of January 2010. Pakistan ordered more Cobras in 2008 and received 14 AH-1Fs from United States in March 2010.

South Korea

• Republic of Korea Army received 42 AH-1S and 20 AH-1F Cobras. It has 50 AH-1S Cobras in service as of January 2010.

Spain

• Spanish Navy purchased eight new-build AH-1Gs, designating the type the "Z-14". These were equipped with the M35 20 mm cannon system, and were used to support coastal patrol boats. Four of these were lost in accidents. The remaining helicopters were retired in 1985 with three sent back to the US, and one kept in storage in Spain.

Thailand

• Royal Thai Army received 4 AH-1Fs in 1990. The RTA has 2 AH-1Fs in use as of January 2010.

Turkey

• Turkish Army received 32 used AH-1P/S Cobras. These were upgraded to AH-1F standards. The Turkish Army has 23 AH-1P Cobras in inventory as of 2010. To be phased out with the introduction of T-129 ATAK.

United States

• United States Army replaced its AH-1s with AH-64 Apaches.
• United States Customs Service used a small number of AH-1Gs between 1981 and 1986.
• United States Marine Corps used AH-1Gs prior to delivery of AH-1Js.
• U.S. Forest Service (25 AH-1Fs, converting to Bell 209 Firewatch Cobras)
• Florida Division of Forestry (3 AH-1Ps, converting to Bell 209 "Firesnakes")