H-1 upgrade program
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The H-1 upgrade program is the United States Marine Corps's program to develop the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom military helicopters to replace its aging fleets of AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1N Twin Hueys. The contract was awarded in 1996 to Bell Helicopter, the original manufacturer of both aircraft, to design the new airframes as modernized attack and utility helicopters with considerable design commonality, to reduce operating costs.
An AH-1Z Viper and a Bell UH-1Y Venom during trials aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5) in 2005
AH-1Z on the tarmac
UH-1Y and AH-Z land on ship deck
UH-1Y landing on an amphibious assault ship
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
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The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engined attack helicopter that was developed on behalf of, and primarily operated by, the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The twin Cobra family, itself part of the larger Huey family, includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra.
AH-1J SeaCobra flying off Hawaii, circa 1971
An AH-1T Sea Cobra launching from the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, July 1985.
On the right a AH-1W showing its twin exhaust, compared to the single on the AH-1F (left)