Aerospace & Defense Technology - February 2023 - 39

Application Briefs
H-1 Helicopter
Bell
Amarillo, TX
817-280-1949
www.Bellflight.com
B
ell Textron Inc. recently completed the Program of
Record for the U.S. Marine Corps H-1, with the
189th delivery of the AH-1Z. The company has been
producing H-1s for the U.S. military since 1959, including
the first H-1 production lot order placed by the
Marines in 1962.
Bell originally designed the H-1 for the U.S. Army with
the iconic Huey helicopter. In 1966 Bell created the AH-1
Cobra as the first dedicated gunship. In 1970, the Bell UH-1N
brought twin engine capabilities to more than 28 countries, and
in 1984 the AH-1W provided the U.S. Marine Corps increased
attack helicopter capability.
The current generation AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom have
an 85 percent commonality rating - the most among any
Department of Defense (DOD) operated aircraft.
The AH-1Z achieved initial operating capacity in February
2011 and the UH-1Y achieved initial operating capacity in
August 2008. The first combined Viper/Venom deployment with
a Marine Expeditionary Unit occurred in 2009.
Precision Attack Drone
SpearUAV
Tel Aviv, Israel
+972-54-228-2822
www.spearuav.com
S
pearUAV has introduced what it describes as a " world
first, " with its new encapsulated and launch able hovering
precision attack drone, Viper. The new drone has
been developed to empower tactical forces with an immediate,
precise and autonomous aerial loitering munition
capability against beyond line of sight (BLOS) targets.
Enhancing force protection, the hovering capability of
the Viper enables aerial observation of targets - including
the ability to review buildings floor by floor - in complex
urban environments, while also offering mission abort and
wave-off capabilities.
Developed for single-user operations, the portable and
wearable system can be launched on demand, with mission
readiness achieved in less than a second, from both static and
on-the-move positions. Fused day and night payload and artificial
intelligence-based computer vision for real-time target
recognition and tracking enable intuitive user interface and
ensure minimal collateral damage.
Adapted to all types of ammunition available today, the
Viper is equipped with the Ninox ground control system
(GCS), which is compatible with Android, Microsoft Windows
Aerospace & Defense Technology, February 2023
and Linux. Open system architecture integrates seamlessly
with existing C2 systems.
" The Viper system is the latest and most advanced development
from SpearUAV, " says Colonel (Ret.) Gadi Kuperman,
CEO of SpearUAV. " It combines all the features required for a
precise attack - launch within a few seconds, the ability to
hover slowly to detect and identify targets, and precise attack
with minimal collateral damage. This system has already been
proven in the field. "
For more information, visit www.spearuav.com.
mobilityengineeringtech.com
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" H-1s are key to the 2023 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, " said
Col. Vasillios Pappas, light attack program manager (PMA-276).
" With the US program of record now complete, the Marines
have the flexibility to manage and deploy the helicopters based
on current and future mission requirements as established at the
start of the program. "
The H-1 production line is still active in support of foreign
military sales to approved U.S. allies. Bell continues to produce
AH-1Z Vipers for the Kingdom of Bahrain and will manufacture
eight UH-1Ys and four AH-1Zs for the Czech Republic in 2023.
For more information, visit www.Bellflight.com.
https://www.bellflight.com/ https://www.bellflight.com/ https://spearuav.com/ https://spearuav.com/ https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/
Aerospace & Defense Technology - February 2023

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