Bell Kickstarts Production of AH-1Z Choppers for the Czech Republic

Bell Textron has started the production of AH-1Z helicopters for the Czech Republic.

The production runs parallel with that of the UH-1Y which along with the former is part of the Czech Republic Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of mixed fleet aircraft.

Bell will also be building a flight training device for the Czech Republic, essential to integrating the new helicopters into the Czech Armed Forces.

Bell began production on the Czech Republic UH-1Y in 2021, marking the first production for an international operator of the UH-1Y. The Czech Republic’s purchase of both the AH-1Z and UH-1Y takes full advantage of the 85 percent commonality between parts and enabling full mission capabilities between both aircraft.

The production activity is taking place in Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center.