Skip to main content

Philippine Army to buy Fuji-Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters from Japan.


| 2023

Max Montero on February 8 tweeted that, while the Philippine Army announced plans to acquire Fuji-Bell UH-1J Huey helicopters from Japan, it also showed interest to get at least 1 squadron of Fuji-Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters, which are scheduled for retirement from the Japan Self Defense Force service soon.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link


Philippine Army to buy Fuji Bell AH 1S Cobra attack helicopters from Japan Fuji-Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters of the Japan Self Defense Force (Picture source: Twitter account of Max Montero)


Sources confirmed that the Philippine Army team that inspected the UH-1Js also inspected the AH-1S Cobras and were interested in them should they be offered as a grant by Japan, Max Montero report. While "old", these were made in the mid-1980s to 2000, with the remaining units among those made in the 1990s.

Technically, these AH-1S are younger than the Air Force's MD-520MG Defender fleet. Also, these Japanese AH-1S also received Step 3 upgrades which actually make them AH-1F standard. A squadron of these would provide the Army the ability to conduct air support to its troops without relying on the Air Force. Max Montero assumes that the Philippines will get 6-11 AH-1S Cobras and 13-26 UH-1J Hueys.

Japan manufactured 89 AH-1S Cobras under license by Fuji Heavy Industries from 1984 to 2000. The type is used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and are Step 3 models, which are roughly the equivalent to the U.S. Army's AH-1Fs. The engine is the T53-K-703 turboshaft, which Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced under license. During the 2010s, Japan was examining options for procuring a fleet of new rotorcraft to replace its aging Cobras. In December 2022, the Japanese government decided to replace 47 AH-1S, 12 AH-64D, 33 OH-1, and 26 U-125A with unmanned aerial vehicles.


Copyright © 2019 - 2024 Army Recognition | Webdesign by Zzam