On March 29, 2023, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the US Department of Defense sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned possible sale of 24 Bell AH-1W SuperCobra combat helicopters decommissioned by the US Marine Corps to Bahrain through the US Intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales Program Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This possible sale has been approved by the U.S. Department of State. The total cost of the proposed delivery will be $ 350 million, weapons are not included in the delivery.
Bell AH-1W SuperCobra Combat Helicopters of the United States Marine Corps (c) of the United States NavyHelicopters must undergo major repairs before being sold, and their manufacturer, Bell (as part of Textron Corporation), will act as the general contractor for the work and delivery.
Recall that the AH-1W helicopters were delivered to the US Marine Corps from 1986 to 1999 in the amount of 179 units, and finally removed from service with the US Marine Corps in 2020 with replacement by the next modification of this family AH-1Z. Apparently, Bahrain is supposed to deliver decommissioned AH-1W helicopters from storage after repair. AH-1W helicopters of new construction were exported to Taiwan in the 1990s (63 vehicles) and Turkey (ten, later received the same three helicopters from the presence of the US Marine Corps).
In 2018, Bahrain ordered 12 new-built Bell AN-1Z combat helicopters via FMS, which were delivered in 2022 and early 2023, making Bahrain the first non-American operator of this version. These helicopters entered service with the newly formed 22nd Helicopter Squadron of the Bahrain Air Force Helicopter Wing. However, according to various sources, 22 to 25 old American Bell AH-1E/F/P Cobra combat helicopters remain in the 8th and 9th helicopter squadrons of the Bahrain Air Force Helicopter Wing - although, apparently, only a part of them is in flight condition (some of the machines passed in the 2010s years of repair and modernization by the Turkish company TAI). Apparently, it is planned to purchase 24 used AN-1W helicopters in the USA to replace them.
