Attack helicopter design has come a long way, starting with the legendary Bell AH-1 Cobra in 1967 and continuing to the contemporary combat platforms of today.

 

The pinnacle of these developments is shown in 2024 when we introduce the Top 10 most sophisticated attack helicopters in use today. The least progressed person on our list, who is in 10th position, will come first, and the top performer will come last.

 

Learn about the key components of a contemporary attack helicopter, including as dual seats, crew compartments with protection, powerful weapons, and cutting-edge sensor suites. Modern technology is also included into these helicopters, such as short-range air defense systems.

10. Denel Rooivalk

The French Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma serves as the basis for the South African Rooivalk. Because of this, the design heavily relies on French technology and replacement parts. Denel Aviation made the audacious goal of building one of the greatest assault helicopters in the world, and it was successful in producing a vehicle that could stand up to its competitors. With its extremely advanced indigenous Mokopa anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), the Rooivalk is superior to any opponent that South Africa would encounter in its geopolitical area.

 

Despite Denel’s technological superiority, the Rooivalk is a far-reaching concept, with only 12 instances manufactured and budgetary issues threatening operational preparedness.

 

 

9. Changhe Z-10

Russian Kamov design bureau input went toward the design of the Chinese Changhe Z-10, which was lighter than its counterparts. It is China’s first domestically manufactured assault helicopter. Number-wise, this new design, whose launch dates back to 2012, already meets the requirements of the Chinese military.

 

 

More than two hundred have been made for the People’s Liberation Army thus far.

8. Mil Mi-24

The venerable but famous Mi-24 helicopter design has been a recurrent aerial sight in Asian and African conflicts for the past forty years. This adaptable platform has been used by many countries and paramilitary organizations; in the world of helicopters, it is comparable to the AKM assault rifle.

 

On August 25, 2020, a new model known as the Mi-35P went into serial production for an unidentified foreign customer, which was an interesting event. Having been produced in excess of 2,600 units and having more than 50 operators globally, the Mi-24 is the most produced attack helicopter in history.

7. Agusta A129 Mangusta

As the first attack helicopter in Western Europe to be produced in-country, the A129 was designed in Italy. The Italian design changed after the Cold War ended in order to conform to the evolving strategic goals of NATO. Because there was less chance of facing a Soviet armor assault, the aircraft was made more aerodynamic, which meant that its ballistic protection was compromised. In its heyday, it was considered a competitive alternative to the American AH-64 Apache.

 

The A129 was outfitted with common NATO weapons like as TOW ATGMs and Hellfire, and it was said to be compatible with allied forces. Out of the 60 machines that were manufactured, more than 30 are still in use today.

 

6. Kamov Ka-52

With its highly unusual design, which includes tandem side-by-side seating, ejection seats, two contra-rotating main rotors, and no tail blades, the Ka-52 is likely the most peculiar attack helicopter now in service. Among all helicopters in the world today, it is among the most agile.

 

The Ka-52 may act as a target detector and designator for a bigger helicopter group of Mi-24s and Mi-28s by using a sophisticated battlefield management system. Apart from its distinct features, the Ka-52 utilizes all the firepower one would anticipate from a contemporary attack helicopter, even if its autocannon is fixed and does not have the turret’s flexibility.

 

Presently, over 196 units are produced, with North Macedonia, Egypt, and Russia acting as the current.

5. TAI T129 ATAK

The T129, an Italian version of the Turkish-built Agusta A129 Mangusta, is identical to its Italian counterpart only in terms of the fuselage. Improved avionics, airframe, and armaments are part of the internals, which are made using exclusive Turkish technology.

 

As of 2022, 78 units had been constructed. T129 is an apparently more successful worldwide version of its Italian predecessor, attracting attention from a number of countries, including Brazil, Pakistan, and Qatar. Turkey, the Philippines, and Nigeria are currently its operators.

 

4. Eurocopter Tiger

The Tiger, developed jointly by France and Germany, is the second and latest assault helicopter to come out of Western Europe. More than 180 of these have been made, making it the most popular and successful European design. Using a composite design, carbon laminates, Kevlar, and honeycomb-shaped structures make up 80% of the airframe.

 

With a variety of Western missiles, rockets, and a French cannon installed, the Tiger is used by Australian, German, French, and Spanish troops. Germany, however, intends to phase out all Tiger variants by 2031–2038.

 

The Tiger Mk3 upgrade was originally intended to provide a number of noteworthy improvements and was expected to be used for the first time in 2029. Notably, among other changes, the update called for the introduction of a standardized anti-tank missile.

3. Bell AH-1Z Viper

Third-generation offspring of the legendary Bell AH-1 Cobra, which served as the model for all contemporary attack helicopters, is the American Viper. The asset of the US Marine Corps dates back to 1965. The Viper, the newest model in the class-defining design, shows itself to be a reliable and capable platform.

 

Since their introduction in 2010, the Marines have operated 189 Vipers; further orders from Bahrain, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have increased the total number of Vipers produced to 195.

 

2. Mil Mi-28NM Havoc

 

The latest attack helicopter from Russia is an addition to the legendary Mi-24 and the distinctive Ka-50 series. After an extraordinarily lengthy development period that spanned over 27 years from the first flight to launch, the Havoc has ultimately evolved into a highly effective design overall. Its main feature is its armor, which can withstand bullets from 14.5×114mm rounds without breaking.

 

It is now in use by Algeria, Uganda, Russia, and Iraq as of 2024. As of right now, 126 units of this kind have been constructed.

 

 

 

 

Top – 1 AH-64E Apache Guardian

The Apache, the workhorse of the US Army, is the most common and extensively used assault helicopter in the West and its allies. With 18 operators as of 2024, more than 2,400 units have been produced as of right now for the US and its allies. Since its launch, the Apache has taken part in every significant American and NATO battle, making it the most seasoned and successful Western combat aircraft in its class.

 

The newest and most sophisticated model in the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter family is the AH-64E Apache Guardian. It is an improved model of the previous AH-64D Apache Longbow variant, including new composite rotor blades and enhanced engines.

 

The holy trinity of dependable offensive weapons: Hydra rockets, Hellfire missiles, and an M320 chain cannon with 1200 rounds of 30 mm ammo. The Apache is a very successful and dependable platform that will be around until at least 2048.

 

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