Editing Bell AH-1 Cobra (section)

===Iroquois Warrior, Sioux Scout and AAFSS===
{{main|Bell 207 Sioux Scout}}
[[File:Bell 207 Sioux Scout 73923 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Bell Model 207 Sioux Scout]]

Bell had been investigating helicopter gunships since the late 1950s, paying particular attention to the [[Algerian War]], in which French forces mounted weapons onto helicopters to fight the growing insurgency.<ref name= "cobra birth"/> The company created a mockup of its D-255 helicopter gunship concept, named "Iroquois Warrior". The Iroquois Warrior was planned to be a purpose-built attack aircraft based on UH-1B components with a new, slender airframe and a two-seat, tandem cockpit. It featured a grenade launcher in a ball turret on the nose, a 20&nbsp;mm belly-mounted gun pod, and stub wings for mounting rockets or [[SS.10]] anti-tank missiles.<ref name=Verier_p12-7>Verier 1990, pp. 12–17.</ref>

In June 1962, Bell displayed the mockup to US Army officials, hoping to solicit funding for further development; rival manufacturers issued protests to this approach, alleging that it was an attempt by Bell to circumvent the competitive process.<ref name=Verier_p12-7/><ref name= "cobra birth"/> Nevertheless, the Army was interested and awarded Bell a proof-of-concept contract in December 1962. Bell modified a [[Bell 47|Model 47]] into the [[Bell 207 Sioux Scout|Model 207 Sioux Scout]] which first flew in July 1963. The Sioux Scout had all the key features of a modern attack helicopter: a tandem [[Cockpit (aviation)|cockpit]], stub wings for weapons, and a chin-mounted [[gun turret]]. After evaluating the Sioux Scout in early 1964, the Army was impressed but also felt that it was undersized, underpowered, and that the Sioux Scout was generally not suited for practical operations.<ref name=Donald>Donald and March 2004, {{page needed|date=January 2021}}.</ref>

The Army's solution to the shortcomings of the Sioux Scout was to launch the [[Advanced Aerial Fire Support System]] (AAFSS) competition.<ref name=Donald/> This called for a heavily armed helicopter capable of at least {{convert|200|mph}}. A total of seven companies, including Bell, opted to respond to the requirement.<ref name= "cobra birth"/> It was out of the AAFSS program that the [[Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne]] emerged, a heavy attack helicopter with high speed capability. During testing, it proved to be too sophisticated and costly, and was ultimately canceled in 1972 after ten years of development. In its place, the [[Advanced Attack Helicopter]] program was launched. Under this initiative, the Army sought a conventional attack helicopter with a greater level of survivability.<ref name=Donald/>