Israeli Air Force AH-1S Cobra 160 and 161 Squadron Patch

The Israeli Air Force AH-1S Cobra 160 and 161 Squadron Patch represents units that operated the AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter. The AH-1S is a single-engine attack helicopter originally developed by Bell Helicopter and supplied to Israel beginning in the late 1970s. The IAF operated the Cobra for reconnaissance and close air support roles. The 160 (“Northern Cobra”) and 161 (“Southern Cobra”) Squadrons were key operators of this helicopter for several decades, participating in various operational missions, including border security and strike operations. The squadron patch typically features imagery symbolic of both the unit and the aircraft, such as representations of a cobra and squadron insignia, designed in accordance with Israeli Air Force traditions. Such patches were worn by squadron members to denote unit affiliation and heritage. This item is of interest to collectors of Israeli military memorabilia and historians studying IAF helicopter operations and insignia.