ATGM vs Helo

SheaColandri · #1 October 21st, 2007, 10:35 AM

Keep in mind that an AH-64 Apache (for example) is designed to withstand shrapnel and AA guns up to 30mm, so it IS a bit of a tank as flyin' things go. Another real-world advantage of a wire-guided ATGM is the closed guidance system - no warning for the target. Lastly, ATGMs are designed to deal with terrain features (trees & stuff), since they can be steered around them.

Marek_Tucan · #2 October 21st, 2007, 11:43 AM

OTOH AH-64 doesn't have armored cabin, it's a tradeoff - either armor glass and poor field of view or no armor glass and large windows - Apache has armored glass just between gunner and pilot so that one hit won't preferably get both.

pdoktar · #3 October 21st, 2007, 04:40 PM

The biggest and most vulnerable part of a helicopter is the rotor, no possibilities to mount armor of any kind there. Also the tail boom and rotor are vulnerable to small arms fire.

SGTGunn · #4 January 3rd, 2008, 07:45 AM

In the US Army at least, ATGM gunners are trainined to engage slow moving/hovering helos. During a JRTC training rotation, our battalion's Delta Company (AT/Heavy Weapons) "Killed" (using MILES gear) a couple of helos, inluding JRTC's famous Mi-24 Hind (an former East German bird I believe) with their TOW-2 ATGMs. The US Army's Javelin ATGM actually has a direct attack mode specifically for use against helo's and bunker/buildings.

Adrian