AH-1W SuperCobra hits an M47 Patton tank with a TOW missile during trials

The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engined attack helicopter based on the United States Army's single-engine AH-1 Cobra. The twin Cobra family, itself part of the larger Huey family, includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra. The AH-1W was the backbone of the United States Marine Corps's attack helicopter fleet for decades until it was replaced by the next generation Bell AH-1Z Viper.

The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile. TOW replaced much smaller missiles like the SS.10 and ENTAC, offering roughly twice the effective range, a more powerful warhead, and a greatly improved semi-automatic guidance system that could also be equipped with infrared cameras for night time use. The guidance wires can be seen spooling out of the launcher at 0:06.

First produced in 1970, TOW is one of the most widely used anti-tank guided missiles. It can be found in a wide variety of manually carried and vehicle-mounted forms, as well as widespread use on helicopters. Originally designed by Hughes Aircraft in the 1960s, the weapon is currently produced by Raytheon. The variant seen here could penetrate over half a meter of steel armor with its HEAT warhead.