On 27 September 2021, Amarillo Aviation photographed this Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) Bell AH-1Z Viper, serial 2200, during a test flight over Rick Husband/Amarillo International Airport (TX).
The RBAF ordered the AH-1Z Viper in 2018. On 7 February 2019, a USD 240 million modification contract for the manufacture and delivery of twelve AH-1Z Viper (Lot 16) attack helicopters for the RBAF was awarded to Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth (TX).
This modification contract is part of the original contract, worth USD 912 million and includes AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II guided rockets.
Delivery of the first AH-1Z is expected before the year's end. All work planned to be completed in August 2022.
Photo by Amarillo Aviation