Bell Textron Wins $509 Million for Additional 29 AH-1Z Helicopters to US Marine Corps

Bell Helicopter Textron has won $509.7 million advance acquisition contract for the manufacture and delivery of 29 Lot 15 production AH-1Z Build New aircraft in support of the United States Marine Corps H-1 upgrade program. 

In addition, this modification provides for long lead material and components for an additional seven Lot 16 aircraft.  Work is expected to be completed in February 2021, the US department of defense said in a statement Friday.

Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $509,750,754 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The AH-1Z is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on AH-1W SuperCobra that was developed for the US Marine Corps as part of the H-1 upgrade program. The helicopter features a four-blade bearingless, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission and a new target sighting system.