Bell Textron Inc. celebrated the completion of manufacturing the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Kingdom of Bahrain on September 30. Bell delivered the first of 12 production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command as part of the foreign military sales (FMS) contract entered into in 2019.
Foreign military sales of the AH-1Z bring the aircraft's advanced and dedicated capabilities directly to international operators and help increase interoperability and amplify the effectiveness of Allied forces. The helicopter will be prepared for shipment with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) before being flown to Bahrain in 2022.
“This is an extraordinary achievement for the H-1 Program and brings the Royal Bahrain Air Force one step closer to fielding the advanced capabilities of the AH-1Z,” said Mike Deslatte, vice president and director of the Bell H-1 program. “The men and women of Team Viper, a group of world-class vendors, did an exceptional job delivering the US government on time and on contract.”
Bell designed the AH-1Z Viper specifically to meet the stringent operational requirements of the US Marine Corps, which focuses on full marinization and a reduced logistical footprint. The aircraft has a fully integrated glass cockpit and the ability to carry a wide range of ammunition. The model was also exported to the Czech Republic, which acquired four helicopters.
The sale to the Kingdom of Bahrain was approved in April 2018. Valued at US$911.4 million, the contract provides for the supply of 12 helicopters, two spare T-700 GE 401C engines, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, APKWS guided rockets, navigation, communication and others.
“The Viper will provide significant benefits to the Bahrain Defense Forces as they modernize their fleet of attack helicopters,” said Deslatte. “Having a proven state-of-the-art platform will help contribute to Bahrain's security while improving interoperability with US forces.”
