AH-1Z Viper
OEM: Bell Textron
First Produced: 2010
Status: Active
Role: Attack helicopter
Primary Operator: U.S. Marine Corps
OEM Website: bellflight.com
The AH-1Z Viper is the Marine Corps' attack helicopter, evolved from the AH-1W SuperCobra with an entirely new four-bladed composite rotor system, uprated engines, an integrated avionics suite, and shared dynamic components with the UH-1Y Venom. The Viper carries a 20mm cannon, Hellfire missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinders, and guided rockets.
The AH-1Z and UH-1Y were acquired jointly under the H-1 Upgrade Program, a deliberate effort to reduce logistics burden aboard amphibious assault ships. Viper's maritime corrosion protection and foldable rotor make it especially well suited to shipboard operations, and it has been exported to Bahrain, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
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