UPGRADE The US Department of Defence has approved Bell Helicopter's H-1 upgrade programme, with low-rate initial production to be launched this year. The go-ahead by the Defence Acquisition Board signals the revival of the $6.2 billion programme, which had nearly been cancelled due to cost and schedule lapses. Bell is authorised to remanufacture six UH-1N and three AH-1W helicopters to UH-1Y and AH-1Z configuration in fiscal 2004.
Source: Flight International