5. Bell AH-1 Cobra, Japan
Manufacturers: Bell Helicopter
Primary Users: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (currently), U.S. Army (historically)
Program Cost: $12.6 billion* Unit Cost: $11.3 million*
Historically, the U.S. Army used the Bell AH-1 Cobra. For decades after 1965, the Cobra flew mission after mission for the Army. It became synonymous with the armed conflicts of that era, including those in Vietnam, Panama, Iraq, and Grenada. The AH-1 was the core of the Army’s attack helicopter fleet.
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Originally, Bell Helicopter produced the Cobra on the Bell UH-1 Iroquois platform, which was capable and dedicated. The Cobra had features like a tandem cockpit, chin-mounted gun turret, and stub wings for weapons, making it a classic attack ‘copter. After the 1990s, the Cobra was replaced by the Boeing AH-64 Apache, which was deemed more capable and higher-tech. Now, the Cobra is in use by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
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