Bell has commenced production of the 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, which have been ordered by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
![Bahraini AH-1Z [Bell]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/Bahrain%20first%20AH-1Z%20in%20production%2031-3-21%20Bell.JPG)
The US manufacturer announced the milestone on April 12 after hosting a delegation from the country, which toured the Bell Amarillo production facility in Texas on March 31 to observe the production line and ceremoniously sign the frame of the first of these attack helicopters destined to join the Royal Bahraini Air Force.
Bell was awarded a US$240.27m Foreign Military Sales contract on February 7, 2019, for manufacture and delivery of the 12 Lot 16 AH-1Zs. Bell projects production deliveries to Bahrain will begin in late-2021.
