The following story was filed by Cpl Brian Hartigan and published in ARMY Magazine in March 1999 under the title:

WHEN you're onto a good thing -- stick with it. That is obviously the philosophy of the big car manufacturers. The Ford Falcon has been around for more than thirty years. Holden's Commodore. The Toyota Corolla. Even the ubiquitous Mini and the Beetle are set for a welcome comeback. But, after all this time, what is the similarity between, say an XA Falcon and the latest model to roll off the production line? Very little, bar the size and function. Decades of research and development, improvements and refinements have brought the old, familiar, big, family car to the eve of a new millennium. Yet, despite the lack of similarity between the Falcon of 1964 and that of 1999, we all identify with the product and, to some extent, know what to expect when we invest in our new pride and joy.

Christened the Viper, AH-1Z is the latest development in the tried and true, 35-year-old, AH-1 series Cobra helicopter.

Viper brings together the battle-proven reliability of the AH-1W airframe, the proven performance of the General Electric T700 series engines and a revolutionary new four-blade main and tail rotor system with fully integrated weapons and electronics systems. The cockpit maximises future digital battlefield operations via an advance-technology mission equipment package (MEP) integrated at the human/machine level by state-of-the-art cockpit design.

This combination of combat-proven airframe coupled with the latest in systems integration and manufacturing processes conspires to create one of the most potent armed reconnaissance helicopters for the future battlefield.

Viper has a tandem cockpit configuration that allows for the swapping of duty functions between fore and aft crew stations. Crewmembers can fight or fly from either the front or the rear, though piloting is normally conducted from the front seat. Mission and flight co-ordination between crew is direct, simple and positive. The mission-oriented "glass" cockpit ensures that pertinent information is readily available to enhance situational awareness, while extensive usability testing will reduce crew workloads to improve mission effectiveness. The crewstation/mission equipment package (MEP) is just one example of the developmental experience of Bell. The cockpit features state-of-the-art communications, navigation and fire control equipment. Two large, high-resolution, colour, multi-function displays (MFDs) in each crewstation ensure that all mission and flight information is never more than two button pushes away. It also incorporates an integrated helmet-mounted display and sighting system (IHMDSS) with the ability to project information from all aircraft sensors onto the visor.

It also incorporates a digital map system (DMS) capable of providing moving high fidelity, three-dimensional colour graphic displays and an integrated mission planning system. This provides flight path, navigation data, threat rings and intervisibility information for pre-planned and popup threats.

The target sight system (TSS) offered to Australia on the Viper will ensure compatibility and commonality with US forces. The TSS contains state-of-the-art electro-optic sensors and systems that will provide target detection, recognition and identification at extreme ranges during day or night operations and under adverse weather conditions.

Graham Breen, Air 87 Program Manager for Helitech, Bell's Australian partner, says the capabilities of the TSS are particularly suited to Australia's AIR87 multi-mission requirements. "It allows the full capabilities of the Hellfire missile to be realised for aerial fire-support missions and permits reconnaissance missions to be undertaken at stand-off distances well outside the ballistic range of an adversary's weapons," Mr Breen says. "Because the TSS is fully integrated into the mission system, the accuracy of the rockets and guns on board is significantly improved. The aircraft can also share its targeting capability through target hand-off to friendly forces, ensuring it is fully participant in today's digital-battlefield environment."

The TSS can be slewed by either the mission grips or the head motion of either crewmember using the IHMDSS. Once the operator detects a target, its azimuth elevation and range are recorded in the aircraft mission computer. The information is translated to earth co-ordinates and the target entered in the aircraft's DMS. Targets can then be handed-off to other aircraft or ground stations.

The capability of the TSS FLIR, TV and laser designator/rangefinder to detect, recognise, identify and designate targets is significantly beyond the maximum range of the weapons carried. The number of targets stored in the mission computer is limited only by the memory allocated.

In addition to a triple-barrel 20mm cannon with 750 rounds available, Viper can carry a wide variety of munitions on six stub-wing stations, four of which are universal. The AH-1Z Viper as offered to Australia under Project AIR87 will be cleared to carry 2.75 inch rockets, Sidewinder, Hellfire and Sidearm missiles as well as bombs, gunpods, auxiliary fuel tanks and chaff and flare dispensers. It will have growth options for Stinger, Maverick, Hellfire 11, Longbow Hellfire and Advanced Sidewinder missiles.

Component commonality with current or future utility helicopter fleets could also be a big plus in favour of an Australian Viper acquisition. Its manufacturers boast 85 per cent commonality with their own UH-1Y, great-great-grandchild of the ubiquitous UH-1H Huey still in service with the Australian Army. Many of the major components and systems of both aircraft are identical.

Also, Viper's General Electric T700 series engines are the same series currently tried and tested in Australian service under the cowls of 5 Avn Regt's Black Hawk fleet. Bell is offering the marinised T700-GE-401 as fitted to Super Seasprites with the option to upgrade to the -401C of the Sea Hawk fleet. The auxiliary power unit (APU) is also the same as that fitted to Black Hawk, Sea Hawk and Super Seasprite.

Mr Breen says both the engines and the airframes have been built with the maintainer in mind. "The design facilitates field expedient maintenance as well as extended periods of maintenance-free operation. Bell and its suppliers, known for their world-class support, are confident that the AH-1Z Viper will continue the tradition of providing industry-leading reliability at the lowest operating and through-life cost."

The aircraft is designed to withstand operations in the harshest environments, from hot desert to prolonged marine deployments. The airframe is 'wet assembled' and incorporates aluminium transmission cases to prevent corrosion. In addition to the avionics and electrical systems, the engines are fully marinised for shipboard operations with built-in protection against the electro-magnetic environment associated with naval vessels.

It also incorporates a semi-automatic main-rotor blade-folding capability that facilitates ease of movement and storage in confined spaces.

Bell Helicopter Textron's vice president of military programs Jim Schwalbe says the helicopter Bell is building for the marines is, in all respects, a perfect match for the ADF's requirements. "There is no risk of the ADF ending up with an orphan weapon system. For instance, the AH-1Z program doesn't burden the Commonwealth with development problems such as re-engining aircraft to meet Australia's demanding operational requirements, having to integrate major weapon and sensor systems after contract award to produce an Australian-unique configuration or having to address supportability issues through 'home-grown' solutions. The aircraft is a mature, low-risk design that is right on track to meet the ADF's and the USMC's delivery requirements," Mr Schwalbe says. "The Viper can meet the most onerous of the ADF's stated missions -- with capability to spare. While the Viper carries the pedigree of the battle-proven Cobra, make no mistake -- this aircraft has been designed to meet the requirements of the most demanding battlefields over the next 30 years."

PROJECT AIR87, one of the largest capital outlays in the Australian Army's history, will see the introduction of about 24 armed reconnaissance helicopters for two squadrons in Australia's north. 161 Recce Sqn in Darwin and 162 Recce Sqn in Townsville will benefit from the outlay of more than AUS$1 billion, with the new choppers expected to be operational in 2005.

The need to replace the Vietnam-vintage Kiowa and Iroquois-gunship fleets has long been recognised. Both airframes are nearing the end of their service lives.

Six contestants initially responded to the Australian Army’s Request for Proposal. These were -- Agusta with Aussie partner Tenix and the A129 Scorpion – Bell and Helitech with the AH1-Z Viper – Boeing and Boeing Australia with the AH64D Apache – Denel Aviation and BAeA (now BAE Systems) and the RedHawk – Eurocopter and ADI Ltd with the Aussie Tiger – and Sikorski with an armed Black Hawk.

The list has since been reduced to four – Scorpion, Viper, Apache and Aussie Tiger.