Bell Completes Structural, Power System Upgrades on H-1 Helicopters

Bell Textron has completed the first AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters upgraded under the U.S. Marine Corps’ Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) program.

Previously called Structural Improvement and Electrical Power Upgrade (SIEPU), the program was renamed to highlight its focus on structural enhancements and power system upgrades to support future H-1 fleet requirements.

The upgraded aircraft have left Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center and are undergoing flight testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River to determine the final configuration for future fleet modifications and deployment. The SPINE program is part of a broader modernization effort to support integration of enhanced weapons systems and additional capabilities, while addressing survivability and operational performance.

Work began at Bell’s Drive Systems Center and Repair and Overhaul Center, followed by 19 months of structural and electrical modifications at the Amarillo Assembly Center, involving coordination between the U.S. government, Bell, and industry partners. Bell said completion of the initial upgrades establishes a basis for future modification work, with plans to support upgrades across the Marine Corps H-1 fleet over the next decade.