Texas-based Bell Textron, an aerospace and defense company, recently completed the first AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft upgrades under the U.S. Marine Corps’ Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) program.
The program is part of the H-1 program’s modernization plan to increase lethality and enhance survivability by improving modern warfighting capabilities. SPINE enables the H-1 fleet to utilize enhanced weapons systems and other future capabilities.
The upgrades were to the aircraft’s structure and power delivery mechanisms. Upgrades were conducted at the company’s Amarillo Assembly Center. The aircraft are now at Naval Air Station Patuxent River for continued flight testing to determine the final SPINE configuration that will be modified.
“To have these first two aircraft completed under the SPINE program is a huge moment for us,” Scott Sims, Bell H-1 program director, said. “At Bell, crew safety and aircraft effectiveness remain the number one priority on everything we do. These upgrades will ensure that our H-1 aircraft remain the most capable aircraft available, while operating at the forefront of modern missions. They will continue to excel at the job they were designed to do for many years to come.”
Bell Textron is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses.