Company To Deliver 29 AH-1Z Helicopters Under The Agreement

The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded a contract in excess of $5 million to Bell Helicopter for the manufacture and delivery of 29 Lot 15 production AH-1Z Build New aircraft in support of the Marine Corps H-1 upgrade program.  

In addition, this modification provides for long lead material and components for an additional seven Lot 16 aircraft.  

Work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX (60 percent); and Amarillo, TX (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2021.  

Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $509,750,754 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

According to Bell Helicopter, the AH-1Z is built to meet the expeditionary requirements of the United States Marine Corps. With virtually identical front and rear glass cockpits, fully integrated weapons, avionics and communications systems, the marinized Bell AH-1Z flies with the most advanced aircraft weapons and survivability equipment in the world.

The Zulu is the only attack helicopter in the world with a fully-integrated air-to-air missile capability. Target identification is crucial in the modern battlefield. The Bell AH-1Z’s Target Sight System provides the longest range and highest accuracy of any helicopter sight in the world.

(Source: U.S. Department of Defense and Bell Helicopter. Image from file)

FMI: dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1611035/