The AH-1Z is receiving some well overdue love this update in the form of AIM-9M. Whilst the AIM-9M increases the AH-1Z’s potency against air-to-air, it is still only equipped with the outdated AGM-114B Hellfire for use against ground targets.
AGM-114K Hellfire has a tandem type HEAT warhead that improves the missiles performance against ERA and has a slight improvement versus standard armor penetration. The Hellfire K is also found on the AH-6M which sits at a lower battle rating of 10.0, and upcoming OH-58D at battle rating 10.3(tentative), albeit with a lower quantity of missiles, and lack of a mounted turret. Arming the AH-1Z with AGM-114K will help narrow the gap between the US Army AH-64D and the USMC AH-1Z, making the AH-1Z more enticing to research and play in battle.
Regarding the battle rating of the AH-1Z, it is currently at 11.0 compared to the 11.3 AH-64D. Even with AGM-114K, the AH-1Z may still be acceptable at BR 11.0 because of the lack of a search and track radar found on various helicopters above BR 11.0, and AGM-114K is still fairly underwhelming when compared to other air-to-ground missiles on the competing 11.0+ helicopters.
The AGM-114B is just a placeholder because the AH-1Z was released in Update 1.81, where as the AH-64D was released with AGM-114K in Update 1.97, but gaijin forgot to replace the placeholder with AGM-114K.
Its also important to note that it took a dev report to add the AIM-9M to AH-1Z to replace the AIM-9L placeholder.
I’m quite annoyed that they are adding the aim 9m but not updating its hellfire’s. As far as I am aware the AH-1Z is more modern than the AH-64D apache variant in game currently yet is stuck using the oldest hellfire variant.
Its not like they forgot about the AH-1Z because they are updating its sidewinders but they left its hellfire’s completely untouched. I have no idea what their reasoning is behind it.
Very true I mean no disrespect to the devs of the game or mods. I’m just a big fan of the AH-1Z and have been playing since they first added it when it still had TOW missiles. I would love to see more detail for the US heli line (and honestly for helis in general) but I am quite biased and I am aware there are many other issues that have taken priority.
The prompt response for the devs to replace AIM-9L with AIM-9M was because someone was able to provide adequate sources that the AH-1Z indeed used the AIM-9M.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the AGM-114, I still haven’t been able to find a source that specifically states the variant of Hellfire missile used on the AH-1Z, not even the Hellfire B. I’ve only been able to find 3 things: Hellfire, Testing of Hellfire L w/ wing mounted radar, AGM-179 (JAGM).
This post will be no more than a suggestion than it is an actual historical report due to the lack of evidence.
