Bell Textron has been awarded an estimated US$300 million contract by the US Department of the Navy to upgrade up to 49 US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters under the Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) programme.
The firm-fixed-price, fixed-price incentive and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract covers Phase 3.0 of the SPINE modernisation effort and includes upgrades to 21 UH-1Y and 28 AH-1Z aircraft. Work will begin at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas in mid-2027, with the first upgraded helicopters scheduled for delivery in 2028.
The SPINE programme is designed to increase electrical power capacity and provide the infrastructure needed to integrate next-generation mission systems and weapons. Upgrades include enhanced defensive systems, an advanced data bus, Link 16 connectivity and support for long-range network-enabled weapons, improving the aircraft’s survivability, interoperability and operational effectiveness.
Danielle Markham, Bell’s programme manager for the H-1, said the Phase 3.0 contract marked an important step in ensuring the Marine Corps’ H-1 fleet remains capable of meeting current and future operational requirements throughout its service life.
According to Bell, the modernised AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters will be better equipped to operate alongside fixed-wing assets in joint operations, enabling improved target sharing, enhanced maritime capabilities and greater effectiveness in contested environments.
