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Jordan is in the process of upgrading some of its AH-1F Cobra gunship helicopters to a new standard that incorporates many features similar, or outright identical, to those on the latest AH-1Z model. The update package could potentially serve as a model for other countries looking to upgrade their existing AH-1s or for military forces considering buying Cobras for the first time on the growing secondary market. The Jordanian Air Force displayed one of the modified helicopters during the country’s biennial Special Operations Forces Exhibition, or SOFEX, which took place at Marka Airport in the capital Amman in May 2018....

Bell Helicopter is pitching its AH-1Z Viper attack and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters to meet ADF requirements outlined in the recent Defence White Paper. February’s Defence White Paper and its accompanying Integrated Investment Program (IIP) detailed the planned early retirement and replacement of Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) from the mid-2020s plus plans to acquire “deployable light helicopters” to support Special Forces operations. “The White Paper calls for Australia to have an outward-facing, strategically engaged capability of being forward deployed,” Bell’s regional director for military business development, John Woodbery, told Australian Aviation in Canberra in late July. “We are...

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has awarded a contract to Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to build AH-1Z Viper helicopter gunships for the Pakistani government. Under the $170 million Naval Air Systems Command contract, Bell will build the nine AH-1Zs and nine auxiliary fuel kits for the helicopters as a purchase under the Foreign Military Sales program. Deliveries are expected to be completed by September 2018, according to the contract announcement. The approval of the sale by the State Department was made a year ago for a maximum of 15 Vipers. The Pakistani Army will be the first international customer for...

LAHORE - US Department of Defence (DoD) announced on Wednesday night that it has awarded Bell Helicopter a $581 million contract that includes the delivery of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Pakistan. Although Pakistan had requested the sale of 15 AH-1Z helicopters in April, it is not clear how many of the 15 helicopters have been signed for at this stage. The notification by the US DoD stated that 10% ($57. 9 million) of the overall contract value covered the sale to the government of Pakistan. This suggests that this is an initial deal for the first two helicopters only,...

The Obama administration’s decision this month to sell almost $1 billion in U.S.-made attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment to Pakistan will fuel conflict in South Asia without fulfilling the objective of helping the country fight Islamist extremists. Pakistan’s failure to tackle its jihadist challenge is not the result of a lack of arms but reflects an absence of will. Unless Pakistan changes its worldview, American weapons will end up being used to fight or menace India and perceived domestic enemies instead of being deployed against jihadists. Competition with India remains the overriding consideration in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policies....

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Monday that it has approved sale of AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters and AGM-114R Hellfire II Missiles to Pakistan for an estimated cost of $952 million. Pakistan has requested 15 AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters, 32 T-700 GE 401C Engines (30 installed and 2 spares), 1000 AGM-114 R Hellfire II Missiles in containers, 36 H-1 Technical Refresh Mission computers, 17 AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems, 30 629F-23 Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency Communication Systems, 19 H-764 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems, 32 Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized Top Owl, 17 APX-117A Identification Friend or Foe, 17...

Bell Helicopters' upgraded H-1 generates foreign interest (Reuters) - As U.S. budget pressures mount, the U.S. Marine Corps says growing foreign demand could help drive down the unit cost of its new upgraded H-1 utility and attack helicopters built by Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc (TXT.N). Major General John Croley, assistant deputy commandant for aviation, said the new helicopters had greater range and capabilities that would enhance the Marines' ability to work with allies across the Asia-Pacific region. He said increased interest from countries in Asia and the Middle East could help lower the cost of the new...

Marines Killed in Helicopter Collision The Cobra and Huey helicopters were conducting a training exercise at the time of the crash according to defense officials By R. Stickney | Thursday, Feb 23, 2012 | Updated 6:13 AM PST Seven U.S. Marines died when two helicopters collided last night near Yuma, Arizona. Defense officials said the Marines were from the 3rd Marine Airwing based at MCAS Miramar near San Diego. There were no survivors. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The identities of the seven killed have not been released pending formal notification of next of kin. Check back...

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...

USMC AH-1Z To Deploy In Late 2011 Jan 13, 2011 By Amy Butler Amarillo, Hurst and Fort Worth, Texas A decade after first flight, the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z attack helicopter finally graduated from a turbulent operational evaluation and is being readied for its first shipboard deployment. The service plans to field the AH-1Z Vipers, commonly known as Zulus, with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in November. It will operate alongside its sister aircraft, the UH-1Y Venom, dubbed the Yankee, which achieved initial operational capability in 2008. This deployment will be the first time the Marines are able to blend the...

CUTAWAY: AH-1Z Viper enters production as substantially new aircraft By Initially envisioned as an effort to modernise the drive train of the US Marine Corps' (USMC) veteran fleet of Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, the AH-1Z Viper has essentially evolved into a new aircraft. The helicopter, which was developed alongside its close cousin, the UH-1Y, is a significant technological leap over its predecessor. The new airframe offers increased aerodynamic performance and exponentially more sophisticated avionics. The service hopes to procure some 226 AH-1Zs, including 58 new-build airframes and 168 machines remanufactured from the AH-1W. For the USMC, the appeal of...

The U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra was approved for full rate production Nov. 28. The H-1 program office received official word on the milestone III approval decision from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Dr. Ashton B. Carter through an acquisition decision memorandum. "This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals," said Col. Harry Hewson, the Marines' program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. "We spent the past two years executing a very detailed risk reduction program that tested every part of the weapons and fire control...

AH-1Z approved for full rate production NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra was approved for full rate production Nov. 28. The H-1 program office received official word on the milestone III approval decision from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Dr. Ashton B. Carter through an acquisition decision memorandum. "This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals," said Col. Harry Hewson, the Marines' program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. "We spent the past two years executing a very...

AH-1Z helicopters found operationally effective and suitable NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The U.S. Marine Corps’ newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra has successfully completed its Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL). On Sept. 24, NAVAIR’s H-1 Upgrades program office received official notification from the Navy’s Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force that its AH-1Z helicopters were found to be “operationally effective and suitable” and were been recommended for fleet introduction. “This marks a significant milestone for the program,” said Col. Harry Hewson, program manager for U.S. Marine light and attack helicopters. “The AH-1Z has come a long way through...