Bell Helicopter will build 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters for the Kingdom of Bahrain, according to a Pentagon statement.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. is awarded $240 million for modification to a previously awarded contract (N00019-17-C-0030) for the manufacture and delivery of 12 Lot 16 AH-1Z attack helicopters for the Kingdom of Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

The contract modification, known as Lot 16, is part of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) programme to acquire 189 AH-1Zs.

Also noted that work is expected to be completed in August 2022. 

27 April, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced that the US government has approved the sale of twelve AH-1Z attack helicopters to Bahrain for $911,4 million.

According to the DSCA, the Government of Bahrain has requested 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, 26 T-700 GE 401C engines (24 installed and 2 spares), 14 AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles, and 56 Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) WGU-59Bs.

The DSCA also noted that this proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major Non-NATO ally which is an important security partner in the region.

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is an improved version of the first ever attack helicopter, the AH-1 Cobra. It is also called Zulu Cobra. The latest AH-1Z Viper is a result of AH-1 helicopter upgrade program for the US Marine Corps. It was launched by the US Government in 1996 and has been won the Bell helicopter company. It is worth noting that the Viper was developed alongside the UH-1Y Venom transport helicopter under the same program.