MSPO 2022: Bell displays its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and UH-1Y utility helicopter.

The American company Bell displays its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and UH-1Y utility helicopter at MSPO 2022, International Defense Industry Fair that takes place in Kielce Poland.

Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter at MSPO 2022 international defense industry fair in Kielce, Poland. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The American company Bell presents its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and UH-1Y utility helicopter in the framework of a Polish helicopter modernization programs called Kruz, Perkoz, and Kondor.

The goal of the Kruz program is to replace the old Soviet-made Mi-24 attack helicopters while the Perkoz program was launched to replace the Mi-8 transport helicopter. The Kondor is a Polish program to acquire a new multirole helicopter.

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter, based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter. It incorporates various improvements and advances, including new rotor technology, upgraded military avionics, updated weapons systems, and electro-optical sensors in an integrated weapons platform.

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) replaced the two-bladed AH-1W Super Cobra with the AH-1Z Viper, which features a new, four-bladed composite rotor system, performance-matched transmission, four-bladed tail rotor, upgraded landing gear and a fully integrated glass cockpit. The AH-1Z is equipped with an integrated advanced fire control system and the capacity to support multiple weapons configurations.

The AH-1Z is equipped with a pair of redesigned stub wings, these being substantially longer than those of the preceding SuperCobra. Each one has an additional wingtip station for a missile such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Each stub wing has two other stations for 2.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket pods, or AGM-114 Hellfire quad missile launchers. The AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar can also be mounted on a wingtip station.

Other mission equipment can be fitted to these stations, including 77 and 100-gallon external auxiliary fuel tanks, LUU-2A/B nighttime illumination flares, and numerous types of practice munitions. Underneath the nose of the AH-1Z is an A/A49E-7 turret fitted with a 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 three-barreled rotary cannon.

Bell UH-1Y utility helicopter at MSPO 2022 international defense industry fair in Kielce, Poland. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Bell UH-1Y Venom is a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter built by Bell Helicopter under the H-1 upgrade program of the United States Marine Corps.

The UH-1Y variant modernizes the UH-1 design. The Y-model upgrades pilot avionics to a glass cockpit, adds further safety modifications and provides the UH-1 with a modern forward-looking infrared system. Engine power was increased. Its most noticeable upgrade over previous variants is a four-blade, all-composite rotor system designed to withstand up to 23 mm rounds.