Bahrain completes attack helicopter fleet renewal
Bell's AH-1Z rotorcraft at the Amarillo Assembly Center, awaiting delivery to Bahrain.
Bell has completed the contract for 12 AH-1Z rotorcraft for delivery to Bahrain.
Bell Textron has announced it completed delivery of the final AH-1Z aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command in December 2022, with delivery to Bahrain scheduled in 2023.
This milestone concluded of a programme of record for the delivery of a total of 12 aircraft to the Gulf state.
The first aircraft delivered made their in-country debut during the Bahrain Air Show. So far, six have arrived in-country.
The completion of the Bahraini contract follows Bell’s completion of a contract for the USMC, demonstrating existing confidence in the system.
The AH-1Z programme is a major development of the AH-1W. The first -1Z achieved IOC in February 2011, and by 2020, all AH-1W Super Cobras in the USMC inventory had been upgraded to this standard.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, Bahrain signed the contract to procure 12 AH-1Zs in November 2018 with an estimated value of $240 million.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success]()
Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success
The one-way-effector uncrewed aerial vehicle has also been tested by the British Army, following on from its contract award notice in February 2026.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA]()
Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA
The contract signed between MBDA and Fly-R will see diamond-shaped loitering munitions developed and prepared in the UAE. How does this move fit into wider market trends in the region?
-
![Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up]()
Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up
Thales and MBDA have taken steps to ensure the mass production of their respective loitering munition offerings at Eurosatoy, teaming with civilian manufacturers. These moves come amid France’s push towards sovereign drone production and continued market expansion.
-
![Only 25% of the US Pentagon’s F-35 fleet has been fully mission capable, GAO says]()
Only 25% of the US Pentagon’s F-35 fleet has been fully mission capable, GAO says
The fighter jet remains a combat necessity, but sustainment challenges continue to limit its readiness. In the meantime, the US Air Force seeks billions in funding to improve the F-35's availability.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years]()
Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years
Ukraine’s rapid development of long-range, deep-strike loitering munitions has helped turn the sector into a market worth an estimated US$13.2 billion. The reasons behind this were outlined during Eurosatory 2026, as other countries embark on the early stages of procuring this capability.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe]()
Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe
Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are an increasingly important tool for Europe’s law enforcement and public security agencies, with the past two years seeing rapid growth in operational deployment, procurement and regulatory acceptance.
