My condolences to all families of QZ8501.
The plane suspected to crash due to heavy storm.
Police ate using dark camouflage compare army using green camo.. For combat purposes the army is is equipped with kevlar that can be hit with 7.62 mm.
They also can from 90s 5.56mm bullets but sometimes can go up to 300s bulleys if is needed.
Army are now using m4a1 with the shorter but heavy barrel, claimed to be better than previous m4 which always jam. But police still using M16A1, but you will be amazed although the police operate long barrel m16, they are fast and sharp shooter when operate in a team.
Ec725 is a long range tactical helicopter. It twin engine can travel up to 857km with its cruising speed 285km per hour. The capacity can support up to 29 troops or 5670kgs in this case carry food and medical supplies for east flood areas. The best part it can be handle in current bad weather thanks for Flir or Foward looking infra red system to deploy all search and rescue mission.. now are supporting east coast sate flood nature disaster which now getting worst.
NiThe primary role of attack helicopter or also known as gunship is to engage ground target from infantry to armor vehicle such APC, MBT etc.
Our neighbour such as Singapore and Indonesia is now operating Apache gunship. Singapore has 20 Apaches with some equip with Longbow radar or AN/APG -78 millimeter wave fire control radar. This allow the Apache to track 128 targets and engage 16 at once within 30 seconds.... crazy, which a nightmare to a mechanise armor konvoi.
As for Indonesia army, they will be equip ed with the 8 latest Apache AH 64E, which has a lot of improvements such as more digital equipment, powerfull engine, can be fit to maritime operation etc. But for Indonesia, not sure about they will have longbow radar or not as the price they bought only not a full package price.
So how about us? What do we in mind? I think the best gunship to go against Apache is Eurocopter Tiger. The best part about Tiger is it been design for stealth and agility. The steath is referring to low to visual, radar, infra red and acoustic signature. Tiger use Doppler radar and got FLIR forward looking infrared for night flying. Some operator like German army equip their Tiger with mast mounted sensor Osiris-optical TV-up to 18km, thermal camera, laser finder and multiple gro scopes for sensor stabilizer. By having this the Tiger can be use for recon and even can fire long range anti- tank missile such as TRIGAT LR(up to 7km)- the idea is beyond fire of enemy vehicle. But if Tiger is consider expensive we always have an option.
Other thanSouth Africa Denel Rooivolk we can go for T|29 an upgrade of Agusta A-129 Mangusta. The upgrade is by Turkish Aerospace(TAI). The focus should on their weopon power and radar. Maybe not good as Apache long bow but it still under development. T129 is lighter attack gunship, so additional arm power will compromise it flying capabilities. That's why T129 is using 20mm instead of 30mm like Apache. Well maybe later we will see how Turks develop it and become better that Cobra.