Bell begins Viper build for Nigeria
A NAF delegation attended the commencement of production of the first of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for the service. (Bell)
Bell has begun building the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for Nigeria at its Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas.
The Textron company announced the milestone on 16 September 2026, two-and-a-half years after it was contracted by the US Department of Defense (DoD) in March 2024 to build 12 such helicopters for the West African country. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) award was valued at USD455 million, while Nigeria's wider Viper programme that includes related equipment, spares, weapons, training, and support is valued at USD997 million.
“The Bell AH-1Z Viper will play an important role in strengthening our counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, and enhancing our ability to protect the citizens of Nigeria,” Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said during a ceremonial airframe signing in Amarillo.
Aircraft production will be complete in early 2029, Bell said.
For more information, please see Bell contracted to build Nigerian AH-1Z attack helicopters
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