AH-1W attack helicopters rehearse deep-defense maneuver in Tainan

Taipei, July 16 (CNA) Two AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters conducted a deep-defense exercise in Tainan on Wednesday as part of Taiwan's Joint Defense Exercises, the Fourth Theater Command said Thursday.

The drill, carried out by the Army Aviation and Training Command, was designed to test the military's ability to preserve combat power and sustain operations under wartime conditions.

The five-day Joint Defense Exercises entered their third day on Wednesday. According to the Fourth Theater Command, the two AH-1W helicopters flew to Tainan's Nanhua District to conduct a relocation to a rear-area dispersal zone as part of broader deep-defense training.

Under the guidance of ground command personnel, the helicopters landed at a designated site, where crews carried out dispersal procedures and other tactical tasks before taking off again in accordance with operational orders, the command said.

The exercise demonstrated the military's ability to preserve combat capabilities while validating the rapid mobility of Army aviation units and the effectiveness of ground support operations, the command said.

According to the Fourth Theater Command, the AH-1W Super Cobra is capable of operating in all weather conditions and is primarily tasked with providing aerial fire support and escorting assault operations.

The helicopter can be equipped with a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons depending on mission requirements and is capable of conducting highly maneuverable, low-altitude attacks in complex terrain and at night.

Its advanced fire-control system also enables precision strikes in joint air-ground operations, making it one of the Army's principal attack helicopter platforms, the command said.