Bell Textron has started production of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for Nigeria at its Amarillo, Texas facility, with a Nigerian delegation visiting the plant on 16 September to mark the milestone. The aircraft are being built under a U.S.-approved Foreign Military Sales programme for the Nigerian Air Force, which covers 12 helicopters in total.
The company plans to complete the production run in early 2029. Alongside the airframes, the package includes engineering, programme management and logistics support. The broader Nigerian AH-1Z acquisition has been described as a $997 million programme that also includes engines, guidance sections and associated support equipment, while the helicopter airframe contract itself was valued separately at $455 million in March 2024.
The start of production moves the deal beyond the procurement stage and into physical assembly at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center. It also follows Nigeria’s earlier approval for the type and reflects continued progress in the country’s rotary-wing modernisation efforts for counterterrorism and armed-overwatch missions.