Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the attack helicopters category.
01 / Overview
Bell AH-1Z Viper
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
2000–
Quantity
195
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
ATTACK HELICOPTERS · POST-COLD WAR
3
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
72
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the attack helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight2000
- Service Entry Year2010
- Crew2
- Passengers0
- Primary RoleAttack helicopter
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
- Engine TypeGeneral Electric T700-GE-401C
- Number of Engines2
- Engine Power (each)1,342 kW
- Transmission Rating1,800 kW
- Rotor Configurationfour-blade, bearingless, composite
- Main Rotor Diameter12 m
- Main Rotor Blades4
- Anti-Torque Typefour-blade tail rotor
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed411 km/h
- Cruise Speed241 km/h
- Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)411 km/h
- Service Ceiling6,096 m
- Hover Ceiling (IGE)3,720 m
- Hover Ceiling (OGE)3,050 m
- Range685 km
- Ferry Range2,610 km
- Rate of Climb14.173 m/s
- Endurance180
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Fuselage Length17.678 m
- Height4.4 m
- Rotor Disc Area113.1
- Empty Weight5,370 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight8,390 kg
- Useful Load3,020 kg
- Cabin Volume1.5
◆Armament & Mission8MOD.8
- Hardpoints4
- Weapons Payload1,500 kg
- GunM197 20mm cannon
- Anti-Tank MissilesYes
- Air-to-Air MissilesNo
- Rocket PodsYes
- Sling Load Capacity2,500 kg
- Rescue HoistNo
▤Avionics7MOD.7
⬢Survivability6MOD.6
▲Production2MOD.2
- Total Built195
- Variants1
◎Service History2MOD.2
- Production Start2000
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 2000Production started
- 2010Entered service
26
years in service
195
units produced
6
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Countries6country
05 / MASS Score
ATTACK HELICOPTERS RANKING Attack Helicopters · Post-Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
6ATTACK HELICOPTERS3POST-COLD WAR · ATTACK HELICOPTERS184UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS28PERFORMANCE/PRICE · ATTACK HELICOPTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAttack Helicopterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE14terms
Anti-Tank Guided Missile: a missile designed to destroy tanks.
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Chaff/Flare: Countermeasures deployed by attack helicopters to disrupt radar- or heat-seeking missiles by creating false targets or decoys.
Armored protective panels installed in the cockpit area of an attack helicopter to shield the crew from small arms fire and shrapnel.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
DIRCM/IRCM systems on attack helicopters that detect and disrupt infrared-guided missiles using directed energy or counter-radiation signals.
Combined forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and electro-optical (EO) sensor turret for target acquisition and tracking, typically mounted on aircraft or ground vehicles.
A radar system that tracks targets and guides weapons to intercept them, used for weapon aiming and missile guidance in combat aircraft and ships.
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit featuring electronic instrument displays, typically LCD or CRT screens, replacing traditional analog gauges.
A helmet-mounted system that projects flight, targeting, and sensor data directly into a pilot's field of view.
A sight mounted on a helicopter's mast for targeting.
Electronic receiver system that detects and identifies radar signals, alerting aircraft to potential threats for defensive countermeasures.
Aerodynamic containers mounted on aircraft, typically helicopters or fighter jets, that hold and launch unguided rockets in rapid succession.
Fuel tanks equipped with a material that automatically seals punctures from small arms fire or shrapnel to prevent leakage and reduce fire risk.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources