Armor Militant AH-88 Wasp
| AH-88 Wasp | |
|---|---|
|
File:AH-88 Wasp.png Rendering of the Wasp | |
| Type | Attack Helicopter |
| Place of origin | Union of Everett |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2015-Present |
| Used by |
Union of Everett Air Force Union of Everett Ground Forces |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Armor Militant Defense Industries |
| Unit cost | $42.1 million |
| Produced | 2011-Present |
| No. built | 250 (850 on order) |
| Variants |
AH-88A1 AH-88A2 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 57.4 ft |
| Crew | 2 |
|
| |
Main armament | Mk9 Plasma Cannon |
Secondary armament |
AGM-114 Hellfire Hydra 70 unguided rocket AIM-9 Sidewinder |
| Engine |
General Electric T800 Hydrogen Turboshaft Mk2 Fusion cell |
Operational range |
475 mi (AH-88A1) Indefinite (AH-88A2) |
| Speed | 250 mph |
The Armor Militant AH-88 Wasp is a dual rotor attack helicopter with tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The AH-88 features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. The Wasp is armed with a Mk9 Plasma Cannon carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hard-points mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The Union of Everett Ground Forces and part of the Air Force will be the main operators of the AH-88. The AH-88 was first released into active service with the Union of Everett armed forces in February of 2015, and will complement the Boeing AH-64 Apache and replace the Bell AH-1 Cobra. It may also be made available to Security Alliance nations to replace the Israeli Air Force AH-1 Cobras and provide new attack systems for Iraqistan's Air Forces. The AH-88 will eventually replace the AH-64 Apache.
Characteristics
The Wasp features a unique dual rotor system, similar to the CV-22 Osprey, which can tilt, providing boosted speeds up to 250 miles per hour and possesses no tail rotors. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot/gunner. The crew compartment and fuel tanks are armored such that the aircraft will remain flyable even after sustaining hits from small arms fire. The AH-88 is powered by two General Electric T800 hydrogen turbo-shaft engines with high-mounted water exhausts on side and rear of the fuselage and a backup system using fusion cell power. The AH-88 is designed to endure front-line environments and to operate during the day or night and in adverse weather using avionics, such as the Arrowhead (MTADS), passive infrared countermeasures, GPS, and the IHADSS.
The AH-88 is adaptable to numerous different roles within its context as Close Combat Attack (CCA), and has a customizable weapons load-out for the role desired. In addition to the Mk9 Plasma Cannon, the Wasp carries a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm rockets. The Stinger and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles may also be utilized.