Panha 2091

{{Short description|Iranian attack helicopter}}

{{Infobox aircraft

| name = Panha 2091 Toufan

| image = File:Balgard tofan6 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Toufan in flight

| type = Attack helicopter

| manufacturer = Bell Helicopter Textron
Panha

| designer =

| first_flight =

| introduction = 1998 [https://web.archive.org/web/20120206174635/http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4103/imfhesacobra7xkng0.jpg Iranian Gunship upgrade]

| retired =

| number_built =

| primary_user = {{tree list}}

  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.svg}} Iranian Armed Forces
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.svg}} Artesh{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}
  • {{air force|Iran|name=Air Force}}
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces.svg}} Ground Forces
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of Army Aviation of Islamic Republic of Iran.svg}} Army Aviation
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg}} IRGC{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}
  • {{flagicon image|Flag of the Aerospace Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg}} Aerospace Force

{{tree list/end}}

| more_users =

| status = Active

| unit cost =

| developed_from = Bell AH-1J International

| variants =

}}

The Panha 2091 "Toufan" is an Iranian overhaul and upgrade of the Bell AH-1J International (export version of the SeaCobra) attack helicopter purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.[http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw010827_1_n.shtml Panha hovers between repair and manufacturing] Janes.com The overhaul and upgrade program is known as project number 2091 of the Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (also known as Panha).

Design

Reported upgrades include:

  • new cockpit armored panels
  • new, Iranian-designed canopy
  • new avionics
  • nose-mounted camera
  • new cockpit design

The upgraded attack helicopter has a narrower airframe for greater flexibility and is armed with an M197 three-barreled 20-mm Gatling-type cannon in the A/A49E turret. Its wing-stub stations carry a pair of 19-tube 70-mm rocket launchers.

Bulletproof glass protects the pilot's cockpit and weapons officer station, internal avionics have been revamped with the addition of a GPS and receiver in the nose, and a warning radar attached to the rear, with four antennae providing 360 degrees coverage and all electronics systems integrated.

Specifications

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=

|prime units?=met

|crew=2

|length m=16

|length note=

|span m=

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|height m=

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|wing area sqm=

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil= Wortmann FX 69-H-098{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}

|empty weight kg=2802

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

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|max takeoff weight kg=4530

|max takeoff weight note=

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|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=

|eng1 type=turboshaft engines

|eng1 kw=1125

|eng1 note=

|rot number=1

|rot dia m=13

|rot area sqm=132.75

|rot area note=

|max speed kmh=236

|max speed note=

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|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=600

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|ceiling m=

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

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|climb rate ms=

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|disk loading kg/m2=

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|armament=

:* M197 3-barreled 20 mm "Gatling-style" cannon in the M97 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity)

:* 2.75 in (70 mm) Mk 40 or Hydra 70 rockets in 7 or 19 round pods

:* 5 in (127 mm) Zuni rockets - 8 rockets in two 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers

:* AIM-9 Sidewinder / Misagh-2 Anti-Aircraft Missiles - 1 mounted on each hardpoint

:* Toophan ATGM - 1 dual or quad launcher on each wing

|avionics=

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}