BELL Triumphs in Delivering the AH-1Z Cobra for the U.S. Marine Corps
During an event at the Amarillo Assembly Center, Bell Textron Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), marked the handover of the 189th AH-1Z Viper to the United States Marine Corps, finalizing the Program of Record (POR) for the latest iteration of the historic H-1 platform. Bell finished the UH-1Y POR of 160 aircraft in 2018, bringing the total H-1 POR to 349 aircraft.
“The initial production batch of U.S. Marine Corps H-1s was placed in 1962, and they transformed the combat operations of the Marines today,” stated Mike Deslatte, Vice President and Program Director of Bell H-1. “The completion of AH-1Z and UH-1Y deliveries to the U.S. Marine Corps adds yet another chapter to the legacy of the H-1 platform.”
Since 1959, Bell has been manufacturing H-1s for the United States military. Initially crafted for the U.S. Army, the iconic “Huey” was introduced. In 1966, Bell developed the AH-1 Cobra, the first specialized gunship. The Bell UH-1N arrived in 1970, enhancing twin-engine capabilities to more than 28 nations, and in 1984, the AH-1W boosted attack helicopter capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps.
The contemporary AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom represent the most agile, mobile, and resilient array of aircraft utilized by the Department of Defense. With 85% platform commonality, these two aircraft provide substantial logistical flexibility and lower operational expenses to the Marines. The AH-1Z achieved initial operational capability in February 2011, while the UH-1Y reached this milestone in August 2008. The inaugural combined Viper/Venom deployment with a Marine Expeditionary Unit took place in 2009.
“H-1s are crucial to the 2022 Marine Corps Aviation Strategy,” noted Col. Vasillios Pappas, Program Manager for Light/Attack Helicopters (PMA-276). “With the completion of the U.S. program of record, the Marines have the adaptability to manage and deploy these helicopters in accordance with current and future operational needs as defined at the inception of the program.”
The H-1 production line remains operational, supporting foreign military sales to qualified U.S. allies. Bell continues to produce AH-1Z Vipers for the Kingdom of Bahrain and plans to manufacture eight UH-1Ys and four AH-1Zs for the Czech Republic in 2023.
Since the initial delivery of the AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys to the U.S. Marines, the H-1 diverse fleet has amassed over 450,000 flight hours throughout a wide array of military engagements. Bell will persist in enhancing the U.S. H-1s with lethality, survivability, and dependability upgrades through a long-term modernization strategy, ensuring these aircraft maintain a dominant tactical edge for future generations.
