Military technology has advanced significantly, especially over the last few years. The race to have the latest and greatest arsenal of weapons continues to heat up, and many countries are hungry to gain any advantage they can both on land and in the air.
Helicopters are in integral part of a nation’s air force, and some countries now possess an incredibly capable and deadly fleet of choppers that can be deployed at a moment’s notice to combat any threat.
The YouTube channel X-PROJECT compiled a top 10 list of some of the most sophisticated helicopters currently in use around the world, and the choppers that made the list are truly incredible.
Counting down the Top 10 Best Helicopters of 2019. (X-PROJECT/YouTube)
Kicking off the list is India’s HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). A relatively new aircraft that was first produced in 2010, the Indian Army and Indian Air Force now have four prototypes in their fleet with 10 to 15 more on order following further development.
The HAL LCH actually has nothing light about it. Powered by two Turbomeca Shakti engines that propel the aircraft to more than 160 miles per hour, the chopper can track down targets quickly and effectively. It can fly up to 21,000 feet; has a range of more than 340 miles fully equipped and, more importantly, has an impressive collection of weapons at its disposal.
From cluster bombs to 70mm rockets, and even newly tested air-to-air missiles, the HAL is a force to be reckoned with.
Check out the rest of the top 10 list in the video below:
Two different American helicopters made it on the list, including the AH-1Z Viper and the AH-64 Apache.
The Viper is a twin-engine attack chopper that has been in production for nearly 20 years. Having stood the test of time, Bell now offers variations of the Viper to the likes of Pakistan and Bahrain who have each ordered more than 10 choppers for their own militaries. The Viper packs some serious punch with a 20mm, three-barreled Gatling cannon, guided and unguided rockets, and air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles.
Counting down the Top 10 Best Helicopters of 2019. (X-PROJECT/YouTube)
Boeing’s AH-64 Apache is probably the most well-known helicopter on the list. A seasoned aircraft with more than 40 years in production, the Apache has been part of every major war around the world for decades. Following a number of refreshes and new developments, the Apache helicopter has a weapons system that includes a 30mm M230 Chain Gun, air-to-ground rockets and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
Counting down the Top 10 Best Helicopters of 2019. (X-PROJECT/YouTube)
Topping off the list is Russia’s Kamov Ka-52 “Alligator.”
The distinctive dual rotor of the Ka-52 makes the chopper easily recognizable, and its weapons system, which includes 80mm S-8 rockets, four bombs weighing 550 pounds each, and anti-tank missiles, makes it incredibly deadly. A multi-billion dollar purchase agreement from the Russian Air Force in 2011 calls for at least 146 Ka-52 helicopters to be manufactured and delivered before 2020.
