Bahrain Viper programme passes milestone
Commodore Admiral Jasim Al Jowder visited the Bell Amarillo assembly centre on 31 March 2021 and signed the frame of the first production AH-1Z Viper for Bahrain. (Photo: Bell)
Production is underway in the US of 12 AH-1Z helicopters for Bahrain.
Bell Textron has begun production of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for Bahrain.
The company expects deliveries to begin in late 2021, it noted in a 12 April statement.
Bell is manufacturing 12 Lot 16 production helicopters for Bahrain under a $912 million FMS contract announced in November 2018. In February 2019, the US DoD announced a $240 million modification contract.
A Bahraini delegation toured the Bell factory in Amarillo on 31 March to inspect the production line.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the new Viper helicopters will supplement a fleet of Royal Bahrain Air Force AH-1 Cobras (AH-1Es, AH-1Fs and TAH-1P trainer helicopters).
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