On September 30th, Textron’s Vertexron Company celebrated the completion of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
As part of the 2019 Foreign Arms Sales (FMS) contract, Bell delivered the first of 12 production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command. The foreign arms sales of AH-1Z bring the advanced and dedicated capabilities of the aircraft directly to international operators, and help improve interoperability and enhance the effectiveness of allied forces. The helicopter will be prepared for shipment to Bahrain together with the Defense Contracts Authority (DCMA), and then to Bahrain in 2022.
“This is an extraordinary achievement of the H-1 program, bringing the Royal Bahraini Air Force one step closer to deploying the advanced capabilities of the AH-1Z,” Said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and project director.
“The men and women of the Viper team are a group of first-class suppliers, and they have done a great job in delivering products to the U.S. government on time and on contract.”
Bell specifically designed the AH-1Z Viper to meet the stringent operational requirements of the US Marine Corps, which focus on being fully marine and reducing the logistic footprint. The aircraft has a fully integrated glass cockpit capable of carrying various ammunition.
The compound rotor system further enhances the Viper’s ability to provide close air support to ground forces in any environment, while the fully integrated target targeting system (TSS) enhances the pilot’s clear identification, acquisition, tracking and engagement beyond the maximum weapon range The ability of the target.
“As the Bahraini Defence Force modernizes its attack helicopter fleet, the “Viper” will bring them significant benefits,” Deslat said.
“Having a proven state-of-the-art platform will help promote Bahrain’s security while improving interoperability with the U.S. military.”
Bell continues to work on delivering aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps, Bahrain and the Czech Republic. The company also keeps H-1 up-to-date through planned capacity improvements to ensure that Viper maintains its strategic technological advantage throughout its lifespan.
