Bell Textron has begun production of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for Nigeria at its Amarillo, Texas facility, after a Nigerian delegation visited the plant and signed the aircraft frame during a ceremony. The programme covers 12 helicopters under a U.S. Foreign Military Sales arrangement, with Bell also responsible for engineering, programme management and logistics support, and completion is targeted for early 2029.
The order was approved in 2024 and is aimed at equipping the Nigerian Air Force with a new combat helicopter fleet. Bell hosted the delegation in Amarillo to view the production line and mark the start of assembly on the first aircraft destined for Nigeria.
Nigeria is among the export customers for the AH-1Z, a twin-engine attack helicopter used by the U.S. Marine Corps. The production schedule now moves the deal from approval into the build phase, with the first airframe under construction and the broader delivery programme continuing toward the early-2029 completion date.