Pakistani AH-1Z Viper Helicopters to get General Dynamics V4 Gun Turrets

General Dynamics- Ordnance Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) is being awarded $9,064,921 for the procurement of 41 A/A49E-7 (V4) gun turrets for AH-1Z helicopters in support of the government of Pakistan and the US Marine Corps.

Work will be performed in Williston, Vermont (50 percent); and Saco, Maine (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2021.

This contract combines purchases for U.S. Marine Corps ($5,969,582; 66 percent); and the government of Pakistan ($3,095,339; 34 percent), under the Foreign Military Sales program, a US DoD release said.

In April 2015, the US State Department had approved a sale of 15 AH-1Z helicopters to Pakistan along with 1,000 AGM-114R Hellfire II laser-guided missiles worth $952 million. Pakistan had ordered the first three choppers in August 2015 and nine more in April 2016.

The GD-OTS-made A/A49E-7(V4) gun turret system is chin mounted on the AH-1Z chopper providing the capability to position, feed, and fire the M197 20MM rotary gun. Major components of the A/A49E-7(V4) are the M197 20MM rotary gun, gun turret, control system and ammunition handling system. It provides air to air and air to ground close-range combat capability.