US Marines to buy 12 AH-1Z and 12 UH-1Y

The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Bell Helicopter a contract modification to purchase 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and 12 UH-1Y utility helicopters on May 16.
According to the Pentagon, the modification was to “definitize” a previously awarded advanced acquisition contract.
The aircraft should be delivered by June 2017.
The U.S. Marine Corps hopes to eventually purchase a total of 189 AH-1Zs and 160 UH-1Ys—some of which are new, but many are rebuilt from older models. The Yankee and Zulu model aircraft have about 85 percent part commonality between the two airframes.
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