Bell Textron Inc. has been awarded an estimated $300 million contract by the Department of the Navy to execute structural and power improvements for NextGen Effects, known as SPINE, on United States Marine Corps aircraft. The agreement covers upgrades for up to 49 AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters.
The modifications will take place at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center. Work is scheduled to begin in the middle of 2027, with the first upgraded aircraft expected to be delivered in 2028. This contract marks the commencement of fleet-wide modifications to the new configuration at the Amarillo location.
Danielle Markham, a program manager at Bell, stated that the third phase of the SPINE initiative highlights the significance of this modernization effort. She noted that the project allows the H-1 fleet to maintain competitiveness with current and future operational capabilities.
The upgrades are designed to provide H-1 operators and maintenance personnel with the necessary equipment and technology to ensure the aircraft remain fully interoperable within the modern joint force for the duration of the fleet's service life.
The SPINE program aims to increase electrical power capacity to support modern warfighting requirements. It also enhances the ability to integrate next-generation technology, which improves both lethality and survivability for the aircraft.
Prior to this contract, Bell completed the initial SPINE upgrade on one UH-1Y and one AH-1Z aircraft in the fall of 2025. Those two aircraft were subsequently transported to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for flight testing.
