Bell To Supply 12 AH-1Z Vipers To Bahrain

Bell helicopters has won a $240 million modification contract from the US Navy to supply 12 AH-1Z Vipers to Bahrain under a Foreign Military Sales program.

Bahrain had signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc in November last year to procure 12 Bell AH-1Z twin-engine attack helicopters after the US senate voted down a draft resolution to block US Arms sales to Bahrain. The contract was worth $912 million.

The AH-1Z is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the Bell AH-1W SuperCobra that features a four-blade rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target-sighting system. It has upgraded avionics, weapons, and electro-optical sensors designed to find targets at long ranges and attack them with precision weapons.

The work is expected to be completed in August, 2022.