Description

The Bell AH-1Z Viper (also called "Zulu Cobra") is the US Marine Corps twin-engine, four bladed, attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra.

It's part of the H-1 upgrade program launched by the USMC to upgrade their AH-1Ws into AH-1Zs and UH-1N into UH-1Y. Both AH-1Z and UH-1Y share over 84% of components (tail boom, engines, rotor system, drive train, avionics, software, controls and displays).

The AH-1Z is armed with a 3-barreled 20mm M197 Gatling Cannon and carries up to 6 pylon stations on the stub wings were Hydra rocket pods, AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles can be mounted (up to 16).