Editing Bell AH-1 Cobra (section)

===Pakistan===
Between 1984 and 1986, [[Pakistan]] was supplied with an initial batch of 20 AH-1S gunships by the US;<ref name="SIPRI">{{cite web |url= http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title= SIPRI |publisher= armstrade.sipri.org |access-date= 15 April 2013 |archive-date= 13 May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513073842/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |url-status= dead }}</ref> these were later upgraded with the C-NITE thermal imaging package.<ref name=Stgpg>{{cite news |title=Pakistan Wants More Helicopter Gunships |url=http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20100102.aspx |date=2 January 2010}}</ref> Operated by [[Pakistan Army Aviation]], the service first used Cobra overseas in Somalia during the [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II]], where a single squadron was deployed in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=24&amp;rnd=454 |title=Army Aviation |website=www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906193642/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=24&rnd=454 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Pakistani Cobras subsequently saw action in Sierra Leone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=24&rnd=454 |title=Army Aviation |website=www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk |access-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906193642/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=24&rnd=454 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=geo>{{cite news |url=http://www.geo.tv/3-16-2010/61196.htm |title=US transfers Cobra helicopters to Pakistan |date=16 March 2010 |publisher=[[GEO News]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200956/http://www.geo.tv/3-16-2010/61196.htm |archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

By 2013, Pakistan reportedly operated a fleet of 35 AH-1F helicopters.<ref name="WORLD AIR FORCES 2013"/> Maintaining these aircraft has been difficult, but possible through commercial channels. Additionally, the US government provided $750,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=750000|start_year=2013}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) through 2013 to update the existing AH-1F/S Cobra fleet.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/17-Mar-2010/us-delivers-cobra-gunships-to-pakistan |title=US delivers Cobra gunships to Pakistan |newspaper=[[The Nation (Pakistan)]] |date=17 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102101925/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/17-Mar-2010/US-delivers-Cobra-gunships-to-Pakistan |archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> However, controversy over how much of this funding has actually been spent on Pakistan's Cobras has also been present throughout the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/maintaining-pakistans-cobra-attack-helicopters-05098/ |title= Maintaining Pakistan's Cobra Attack Helicopters |publisher= defenseindustrydaily.com |date= 5 August 2016}}</ref> Turkey has also become a key supplier of spare parts for the Cobra, often free of cost, to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C25%5Cstory_25-1-2010_pg7_12 |title=Turkey to provide Cobra spare parts free of charge |newspaper=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)]] |date=25 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102085856/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C25%5Cstory_25-1-2010_pg7_12 |archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> During the 2010s, Pakistan lost a total of three aircraft in separate incidents.<ref name=newscrash>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakakhbar.com/military/army.html |title=Pakistan Army |access-date=13 June 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031233125/http://www.pakakhbar.com/military/army.html |archive-date=31 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2013_10_28/Pakistani-Army-s-AH-1-Cobra-helicopter-crashes-injuring-pilots-5101/ |title=Pakistani Army's AH-1 Cobra helicopter crashes injuring pilots |publisher=[[Voice of Russia]] |date=28 October 2013 |access-date=30 October 2013 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101115339/http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2013_10_28/Pakistani-Army-s-AH-1-Cobra-helicopter-crashes-injuring-pilots-5101/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Pakistan repeatedly sought the [[Bell AH-1 SuperCobra|Bell AH-1W SuperCobra]] from the US to supplement and replace its current AH-1 Cobras.<ref name="Stgpg" /> Attempts to acquire the [[Bell AH-1Z Viper|AH-1Z Viper]] or [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64E Apache]] from the US were rejected, so Pakistan turned to buying other foreign attack helicopters.  Possible candidates have included the Turkish [[TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK|T129]], the Chinese [[CAIC Z-10]], and the Russian [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-35 Hind]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140627/DEFREG03/306270022/Pakistani-Cobra-Crash-Further-Stresses-Tired-Fleet |archive-url= https://archive.today/20140725220513/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140627/DEFREG03/306270022/Pakistani-Cobra-Crash-Further-Stresses-Tired-Fleet |url-status= dead |archive-date= 25 July 2014 |title= Pakistani Cobra Crash Further Stresses Tired Fleet |publisher= Defensenews.com |date= 27 June 2014}}</ref> In November 2014, Russia approved the sale of Mi-35M helicopters to Pakistan.<ref>[https://archive.today/20141130053320/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141113/DEFREG03/311130039/Pakistan-Wins-Approval-Purchase-Mi-35-Helo Pakistan Wins Approval To Purchase Mi-35 Helo] – Defensenews.com, 13 November 2014</ref> In April 2015, China delivered three Z-10s to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/863869/chinese-thunderbolt-helciopters-may-replace-american-cobras-in-pakistan/ |title=Chinese 'Thunderbolt' helicopters may replace American Cobras in Pakistan |publisher= The Express Tribune |date=3 April 2015}}</ref> During the same month, the US Department of State approved the sale of 15 AH-1Zs and associated equipment to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2015/04/07/state-dept-oks-952m-pakistan-helo-deal/ |title=State Dept. OKs $952M Pakistan Helo Deal |website=Defense News |author= Joe Gould and Usman Ansari |date=7 April 2015}}</ref> During October 2017, the T129 was also reported to be a contender for further orders.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1365515 |title=Shahid Khaqan Abbasi becomes Pakistan's first PM to fly military helicopter |date=23 October 2017 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en-US}}</ref>