The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. a $509.7 million contract for production and delivery of 29 new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The contract covers manufacture costs and delivery of 29 new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters intended to support the Marine Corps H-1 upgrade program.
The contract was announced on August 23 and work to commence in Fort Worth, Texas, and Amarillo, Texas, and is scheduled for completion in February 2021.
The Bell AH-1Z is built to meet the expeditionary requirements of the United States Marine Corps.
A Look at AH-1Z Attack Helicopter
- Has virtually identical front and rear glass cockpits
- Has fully integrated weapons, avionics and communication systems.
- Flies with the most advanced aircraft weapons and survivability equipment in the world
- Comes with a fully-integrated air-to-air missile capability.
- Target identification capability which is critical in the modern battlefield. The Target Sight System capability provides the longest range and highest accuracy of any helicopter sight in the world.
- Has six stations available on its wing pylons to carry ordnance, vice four on the AH-1W.
- Stations one and six are capable of carrying the AIM-9, an infrared-guided air-to-air missile (the capability to defend itself and other assault support platforms against an enemy aircraft).
- Stations two through five; each capable of carrying one of the following munitions: (7) x 2.75″ Guided Rockets (APKWS – Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System), (4) x AGM-114 HELLFIRE, (19) x 2.75″ unguided rockets, (1) x AIM-9 and (1) x 77-Gallon Auxiliary Fuel Tank.
