Pivotal for advancing military aviation technology worldwide.
Attack helicopters have evolved. Modern machines are faster, can engage from greater distances, and carry more ordinance than their predecessors. At the forefront of this evolution is the Bell AH-1Z Viper. Bell invented the attack helicopter and changed the face of US Army aviation.
From this legacy, Bell has created subsequent variations of the AH-1, culminating in the AH-1Z. Today, the Viper has evolved from the venerable AH-1 of the Vietnam War. In creating the AH-1Z Viper platform, Bell has been pivotal for advancing military aviation technology worldwide.
Currently, the AH-1Z Viper is the newest attack helicopter on the market, designed to provide an overwhelming competitive advantage to its users across a broad range of missions. More than an evolutionary upgrade, the Viper is a re-designed dedicated attack helicopter for modern threats, according to a press communique.
Austere environments
Bell designed the Viper to counter both air-to-air and air-to-ground targets while simultaneously operating in the world’s most austere environments. The AH-1Z has demonstrated its ability to counter unmanned aerial systems, a vital capability in today’s operating environments.
“With the AH-1Z Viper, Bell has created an aircraft that not only meets but exceeds all the key requirements for modern military helicopters,” stressed Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 Senior Vice President and Programme Director. “No other aircraft can match the performance, capability, connectivity, and survivability of the AH-1Z,” he added.
As important as the AH-1Z’s flight characteristics, the Viper maintains a minimal logistics footprint. Ease of maintenance for the troops operating it in the field while preserving effective operations away from main points of support and logistics create one of the most deployable attack helicopters in the world.
The aircraft can operate multiple missions, including:
Attack: The AH-1Z Viper provides air-to-ground fire support with a wide array of precision missiles and rockets capable of defeating armored formations and provides the pilots multiple options to engage the enemy to achieve the desired effects on target. It is also the only attack helicopter in the world with fully integrated air-to-air AIM-9M sidewinder missile capability to counter both rotary and fixed-wing adversaries.
Aerial Reconnaissance: With sensor-powered sight, the AH-1Z Viper features high-tech sensors that enable pilots to identify, track, and assign targets, allowing them to select their attack location and target for maximum effects.
Escort: The AH-1Z Viper is armed for aerial dominance of the battlespace and provides valuable air support for troops on the ground, reacting to threats ahead. The AH-1Z Viper maintains the fully integrated and up-to-date survivability equipment that protects against modern weapons.
As more militaries modernize to become fifth generation fully networked forces, they must do so while balancing cost to own and operate while maximizing capability. The AH-1Z systems, weapons, speed, and range will seamlessly enable forces to employ even more strategic resources from expeditionary environments.
