AH-1Z Viper

An AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 pictured in flight. The AH-1Z Viper is the latest iteration of the AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter.

Improvements over the AH-1W include:

• 4-blade main and tail rotors (AH-1W only has two)
• hingeless rotor blades made from advanced composites with improved ballistic protection
• longer stub wings allowing for carrying an increased weapons payload
  (16 AGM-114 hellfire missiles - 8 more than the AH-1W)
• integrated avionics system (IAS)
• "Top Owl" helmet-mounted sight and display system
• 3rd-gneration FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared)

The AH-1Z is currently due to enter service with the United States Marines Corps in 2011