Bell Textron has been awarded a $33.64 million contract to enhance the structural integrity and electrical power systems of the US Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters under the Structural and Power Improvements for Next-Generation Effects (SPINE) Phase III program. The contract includes the delivery of A-kits and D-kits, upgraded power generation systems, drivetrain components, spare parts, labor, and related materials to prepare the H-1 fleet for future mission requirements. Most of the work will be performed at Bell’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, with completion scheduled by July 2028. According to Bell, the SPINE upgrade replaces the helicopters’ legacy electrical systems with a modern, scalable architecture capable of supporting advanced weapons, sensors, and mission equipment. The AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom, which share more than 84 percent commonality, form the backbone of the Marine Corps’ rotary-wing fleet, simplifying maintenance and logistics. Earlier this year, Bell delivered the first SPINE-equipped helicopters to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for testing. The Phase III contract marks the program’s transition into fleet-wide implementation, paving the way for advanced data buses, Link 16 networking, enhanced defensive suites, next-generation mission computers, long-range precision weapons, air-launched effects, and sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities.
