![](https://www.c4defence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/c775f5ef-d998-40fd-9bb1-ccf194520e76-1.jpg)
Zumwalt Participates In Operation
February 8, 2017![](https://www.c4defence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/b029cc6a-5b79-4a4d-9074-9ee9995eb58b-1.jpg)
Increasing Tension in the Pacific
February 10, 2017‘Viper’ Support to USMC
![](https://www.c4defence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/f31ce537-ea12-4ff9-8587-957af1a32063-1.jpg)
Bell, based in Fort Worth, Texas, announced on Tuesday that it would produce 27 new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The $49.1 million contract signed with the US Navy is considered part of the H-1 upgrade program.
The H-1 upgrade program is aimed at obtaining new helicopters as well as AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters transform into AH-1Z and UH-1N Twin Huey service helicopters transform into UH-1Y in inventory. The AH-1Z will be an advanced AH-1W SuperCobra, featuring two-motor attack helicopters, four-blade rotor system, elevated transmission and a new target sighting system. The new helicopter has a load carrying capacity of 2,600 kg. The AH-1Z has the two crew, is up to 20,000 feet. It’s carries a 20-millimeter Gatling gun, and can fire 70-millimeter Hydra rockets, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles.