Bahrain’s Viper attack helo makes debut at BIAS 2022, whole fleet expected by 2023

A AH-1 Zulu Viper helicopter is proven on the Bahrain Worldwide Airshow in November 2022. (Agnes Helou/Breaking Protection)

MANAMA — Bahrain’s AH-1 Zulu Viper helicopters made their debut at Bahrain Worldwide Airshow 2022 final week, after the gulf nation acquired the primary batch of six choppers over the summer time.

“Bahrain took supply of the primary [six Vipers] by way of transport aircraft and [another] six plane can be out of manufacturing strains this coming yr,” Bell’s vp and program director of H-1 and AW609 applications, Michael Deslatte, advised Breaking Protection.

After coordination with US authorities and the Royal Bahraini Air Drive (RBAF), the second batch of six will arrive to Bahrain within the first half of 2023, Deslatte stated.

At BIAS 2022, one of many new Vipers was displayed with Lockheed Martin’s Goal Sight System on its nostril, Northrop Grumman mission computer systems, and full glass cockpit.

Bahrain grew to become the primary international nation to acquire the Zulu model due to a $911.4 million contract for the helos, in addition to elements and munitions, signed at BIAS 2018. The Vipers can have in-country pilot and maintainer coaching and plane upkeep.

The US Marine Corps have been working the AH-1Z Viper for quite a lot of missions together with anti-air, anti-armor, assist for armed troops, shut air assist and reconnaissance.

For Bahrain, Deslatte added that coaching is already going down in-country, because the agency has delivered an in-house developed simulator. The chook has additionally seen operational use, taking part in missions with the Bahraini air pressure. Past the ordered 12, nevertheless, Deslatte advised Breaking Protection that there is no such thing as a request but to extend the variety of airframes for Bahrain.

The RBAF Vipers usually are not geared up with Hyperlink 16, the navy tactical information hyperlink community utilized by NATO and allies, however Deslatte said that may very well be an possibility sooner or later, noting, “The US Marine Corps is integrating the Hyperlink 16 on the Zulus now, therefore it’s a potential future functionality if Bahrain [becomes] curious about that kind of functionality.”

The Vipers’ popping out on the Bahraini air present coincided with a ceremony simply days earlier than for the supply of the ultimate AH-1Z to the US Marine Corps, finishing this system of document at 189 helicopters.

“The primary manufacturing lot of US Marine Corps H-1s was ordered in 1962, and so they modified the way in which Marines battle right this moment,” Deslatte stated in a press release on the time. “Finishing the AH-1Z and UH-1Y deliveries to the US Marine Corps provides another chapter to the legacy of the H-1 platform.”

Again on the Bahrain air present, on the other aspect of the show space, two AH-1 Cobra helicopters have been displayed and seemed in fine condition. RBAF has a complete of 30 Cobra helos in its stock. In 2015, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Aselsan signed a $24 million take care of Bahrain to improve their AH1-P Cobra Assault helicopters.

In response to the deal, TAI and Aselsan have been anticipated to combine the mission pc and a few avionics from Turkey’s T129 Atak helicopter and equip the choppers with to Roketsan weapons.