Posted on 03/16/2011 10:32:01 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Amarillo-built helos 'ready for combat'
By Joe Gamm
Created Mar 15 2011 - 12:00am
An attack helicopter assembled in Amarillo has achieved initial combat readiness, and is being deployed to the Marine Corps.
Bell Helicopter officials said the AH-1Z has earned an Initial Operating Capability designation six months ahead of schedule.
"They are ready (for combat) now," said Col. Harry Hewson in an e-mail to the Amarillo Globe-News.
Hewson, the program manager for the Marines light/attack helicopters, said on Feb. 25 the first Marine squadron received a detachment of six AH-1Z aircraft, along with required primary and support equipment and personnel suitably trained, certified and ready to deploy in accordance with Marine Corps standards.
"First deployment of the AH-1Z is planned to occur on board a Marine Expeditionary Unit before the end of (fiscal) 2011," Hewson said. "All squadron maintenance personnel are trained in their required tasks. All required technical publications, support equipment, special tools and spare parts are in place."
Bell Helicopter in Amarillo, which employs more than 1,000 workers, assembles V-22 Ospreys and two helicopters, including the AH-1Z.
The attack helicopters cost about $20 million each, according to military officials.
The U.S. Marine Corps is replacing the two-bladed AH-1W with the AH-1Z, which features a new, four-bladed composite rotor system.
As part of the H-1 Upgrade Program, the AH-1Z replaces the AH-1W.
The Zulu will play a supporting role in anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, and control of aircraft and missiles.
During its first deployment later this year, the AH-1Z is expected to work alongside UH-1Y helicopters. The Z carries 20 mm cannons and can field anti-tank and Hellfire missiles. The Y variant has various weapons that can be mounted on it, including .50-caliber and 7.62 mm machine guns.
Because the two helicopters have about 84 percent of parts in common, yet have different capabilities, teaming them is beneficial.
John L Garrison, president of Bell Helicopter, said in a statement Monday, "The partnership between Bell Helicopter and the Navy-Marine Corp team demonstrates that we are both fully committed to providing world class equipment for our warfighters."
The final major milestone the helicopters face, called Full Operational Capability, is expected to occur in 2020.
Watchin the V22’s, Cobras etc flying around the panhandle of Texas is commonplace these days.... lots of em being built.
“John L Garrison, president of Bell Helicopter, said in a statement Monday, “The partnership between Bell Helicopter and the Navy-Marine Corp team demonstrates that we are both fully committed to providing world class equipment for our warfighters.”
Warfighters? Sounds war-like (sarc/). In this pc America, that’s damn refreshing to read.
it is the politically blessed terminology..
Here in the Panhandle we build Nukes and Helicopters.....:o)
Stay safe !
Things could get interesting down the road a few years hence. I always wondered what would come after a “Z” model.
Sadly, the Zulu Cobra is the last of the H-1 line, along with the sister ship, the UH-1Y. Apart from relatively minor upgrades to improve each model, the H-1 will take its place in history after their time is up. Unless, of course, the Marines decide to extend the service life ;<)
TC
I want one.
At first I thought the headline read “Armadillo-built helos..”, and I was very impressed. All I had ever seen armadillos do in the past was play the part of road kill.
This model comes with a rear view mirror! :>)
Good posting.
The Z and Y models were flying in the late 1990s at the main facility in Hurst TX, where they were designed and devoloped, manufactured and flight tested. I don’t understand why it would take over a decade for an announcement that they are operational. They ARE awesome aircraft!!
I find it strange that assembly has been moved to Amarillo. However, I retired from Bell Helicopter at the end of 2001 (orig. hire date 1965) and just haven’t kept up with what they are still producing at Hurst.
Just seems the company has gone downhill in terms of capability, as we were pushing out around 200 Hueys and Cobras per month in the late 1960s during the Viet Nam era.
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