DoD awards Bahraini Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters contract
Bahrain will receive 12 Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters by the end of August 2022, under a contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 7 February.
The USD240.3 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal, which was first reported at the Bahrain Airshow in November 2018, will see the helicopters built under the US military’s Lot 16 production run.
As noted by the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) when the procurement was first approved in April 2018, in addition to the 12 AH-1Z helicopters Bahrain is to acquire Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and BAE Systems Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II guided rockets, as well as Thales’ TopOwl helmet-mounted display system.
The total value of the deal, including spares, support, and ancillary equipment, was estimated by the DSCA to be USD911.4 million, with further contracts set to follow this initial award.
The AH-1Z buy is part of a wider revamp of Bahrain’s rotary-winged capabilities occurring in two phases. Phase 1, which is already complete, saw the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) upgrade its fleet of Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. Phase 2 involves procurement of the AH-1Z and potentially also the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T129 to augment the upgraded Cobras and replace the Eurocopter BO-105 Bolkow platforms that were first delivered in 1978.
Source: IHS JANES News by Gareth Jennings – 08 February 2019
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/dod-awards-bahraini-ah-1z-contract
Bahrain Bell AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters
Bahrain is to receive 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters by the end of August 2022. USMC Bell AH-1Z Viper BuNo 167810, HMLA-367 “Scarface” Arriving at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for the 2011 “Aviation D (Photo by flickr by Joe_Copalman)
WASHINGTON, APR. 27, 2018 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain of AH-1Z attack helicopters for an estimated cost of $911.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Bahrain has requested twelve (12) AH-1Z attack helicopters, twenty-six (26) T-700 GE 401C engines (twenty-four (24) installed and two (2) spares), fourteen (14) AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles, and fifty-six (56) Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) WGU-59Bs. This request also includes fifteen (15) Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) w/Standard Positioning Service (SPS) (including three (3) spares), twelve (12) Joint Mission Planning Systems, twelve (12) M197 20mm gun systems, thirty (30) Tech Refresh Mission Computers, fourteen (14) AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems, twenty six (26) Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized Top Owl, communication equipment, electronic warfare systems, fifteen (15) APX-117 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), fifteen (15) AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems, fifteen (15) AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Sets, fifteen (15) APR-39C(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers, support equipment, spare engine containers, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $911.4 million.
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. Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force plays a significant role in Bahrain’s defense.
The proposed sale improves Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats. Bahrain will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This sale will improve interoperability with U.S. forces. Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
This proposed sale of equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors will be Bell Helicopter, Textron, Fort Worth, Texas; and General Electric Company, Lynn, Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements proposed in conjunction with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips by U.S. Government and contractor representatives to participate in program and technical reviews plus training and maintenance support in country, on a temporary basis, for a period of sixty (60) months. It will also require three (3) contractor representatives to reside in country for a period of two (2) years to support this program.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department’s Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agencys – 27 April 2018
Emine Erenoglu (Middle East XairForces Editor from Ankara/TURKEY)
