The completion of AH-1Z and UH-1Y deliveries to the US Marine Corps added another chapter to the legacy of the H-1 platform
In a ceremony at the Amarillo Assembly Center, Bell celebrated the delivery of the 189th AH-1Z Viper to the US Marine Corps (USMC), completing the Program of Record (POR) for the latest version of the storied H-1 platform. Bell had completed the UH-1Y POR of 160 aircraft in 2018, bringing the combined H-1 POR to 349 aircraft.
“The first production lot of US Marine Corps H-1s was ordered in 1962, and they changed the way Marines fight today,” said Bell H-1 vice president and program director Mike Deslatte in a Bell News Release. “Completing the AH-1Z and UH-1Y deliveries to the US Marine Corps adds one more chapter to the legacy of the H-1 platform.”
H-1 Platform Legacy
Since 1956, more than 16,000 aircraft have been produced as part of the H-1 family of helicopters, popularly known as the Huey and Cobra. Originating from a 1955 US Army contract for a medical evacuation helicopter (the iconic “Huey”), the first Navy/Marine Corps Iroquois variant, the UH-1E, was first procured in 1964.
In 1966, Bell created the AH-1 Cobra as the first dedicated gunship. In 1970, the Bell UH-1N brought twin-engine capabilities to more than 28 countries, and in 1984, the AH-1W provided the USMC with increased attack helicopter capability. The Venom and the Viper are based on this Vietnam-era family of UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and the derivative AH-1 Cobra.
Current Generation Capabilities
The current generation AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom are the most agile, mobile, and survivable combination of aircraft used by the Department of Defense. The 85% common platforms are the only two aircraft with so much commonality, providing the Marines with logistical agility and reduced operating costs. This commonality includes a common tail boom, engines, rotor system, drivetrain, avionics architecture, software, and controls.
The AH-1Z achieved initial operating capacity in February 2011, and the UH-1Y achieved initial operating capacity in August 2008. The first combined Viper/Venom deployment with a Marine Expeditionary Unit occurred in 2009. The USMC replaced the AH-1W Super Cobra with the AH-1Z Viper and the UH-1N Huey with the UH-1Y Venom.
Bell designed the AH-1Z Viper specifically to meet the stringent operational requirements of the USMC, which focus on full marinization and a reduced logistical footprint. The aircraft has a fully integrated glass cockpit and the ability to carry a wide variety of munitions. The composite rotor system enhances the Viper’s ability to provide close air support to ground forces in any environment, while the fully integrated Target Sight System (TSS) enhances pilots’ capabilities to clearly identify, acquire, track, and engage targets beyond maximum weapon range.
The AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter provides rotary wing close air support, anti-armor, anti-air, armed escort, armed/visual reconnaissance, and fire support coordination capabilities under day/night and adverse weather conditions for the USMC.
The UH-1Y Venom multi-role utility helicopter is equipped with a wide range of weapons and mission support configurations to also perform close air support missions, along with combat assault support, search and rescue/casualty evacuation, armed escort/reconnaissance, command and control, and special operation support. UH-1Y Venom is the USMC’s premier utility platform.
Since the first delivery of the AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys to the USMC, the H-1 mixed fleet has accumulated more than 450,000 flight hours through a full spectrum of military operations.
Foreign Military Sales
The H-1 production line remained active in support of foreign military sales to approved US allies. Foreign military sales of the AH-1Z brought the advanced, dedicated capabilities of the aircraft directly to international operators and helped increase interoperability and amplify the effectiveness of allied forces.
Kingdom of Bahrain
Bell celebrated the completion of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Kingdom of Bahrain on September 30, 2021. The company delivered the first of 12 production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as part of the 2019 foreign military sales (FMS) contract. The helicopter was prepared for shipment to Bahrain with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) before being transported to Bahrain in 2022.
“This is an extraordinary achievement by the H-1 Program and brings the Royal Bahraini Air Force a step closer to fielding the advanced capabilities of the AH-1Z,” said Mike Deslatte in a company news release. “The men and women of Team Viper, a group of premier suppliers, have done an exceptional job of delivering to the U.S. Government, on time and contract.”
“The Viper will provide significant benefits to the Bahrain Defense Force as they modernize their fleet of attack helicopters,” said Deslatte. “Having a proven state-of-the-art platform will help contribute to the security of Bahrain while improving interoperability with U.S. forces.”
Bell continued to produce AH-1Z Vipers for the Kingdom of Bahrain following the completion of the USMC program.
Czech Republic
After having delivered the last UH-1Y to the USMC, Bell restarted Venom production in July 2021 for the Czech Republic, the first international operator of the helicopter. The company planned to manufacture eight UH-1Ys and four AH-1Zs for the Czech Republic in 2023.
Program Impact
“H-1s are key to the 2022 Marine Corps Aviation Plan,” said Col. Vasillios Pappas, Light/Attack Helicopters program manager (PMA-276). “With the US program of record now complete, the Marines have the flexibility to manage and deploy the helicopters based on current and future mission requirements as established at the start of the program.”
The commonality between the AH-1Z and UH-1Y enabled critical component supply chains to remain active during AH-1Z production for the USMC, supporting both domestic and international deliveries.
Photos by U.S. Marine Corps and Bell
