The AH-1E (Japanese) has lower penetration missiles and no thermals. Saying it’s worse in every way was an overstatement, but it’s definitely not better enough to warrant it being two BR steps higher, especially since that puts it up regularly against SAMs with ATGMs that only very slightly outrange them.
As for the AH-1F/S, they are at least somewhat better than the Mi-24A, but they are certainly not on par with the Mi-24V/P that are at the same BR as them.
Better HEAT rocket pen, better ATGM pen.
And sorry got confused, was pretty sure it had them earlier.
You also get twice more ATGMs.
AH-1 s still are better overall with using HEAT rockets and evading rockets/SPAA sprays, while MI-24s barely move to sides and rotate compared to them and Ka series.
After having to grind Mi-24 on Mi4AV it just feels like faster Mi4Av because using HEAT rockets is a death sentence as they simply wont pen&damage and you really wont keep them on target for much time because it gets speed way to quickly for its own good.
1F/S are better than V/P Hinds, target acquisition is so much easier with Thermal Optics while the Hinds still have the same Optical Zoom as 8.3 Helicopters. The only “bad” thing about the Cobras is they don’t really have a lineup and TOWs are quite slow, while the “best” thing about the Hinds is using them as pseudo-SPAA with R-60Ms.