Bell UH - 1Y Viper The Bell UH - 1Y Venom ( also called Super Huey ) is a twin - engine medium size utility helicopter , part of the United States Marine Corps ' H - 1 upgrade program . The helicopter is also called Yankee for its variant letter . The UH - 1Y is currently in low - rate production to replace the USMC ' s aging fleet of UH - 1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters first introduced in the early 1970s . The UH - 1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH - 1Ns , but in 2005 it was approved for the aircraft to be built as new . History . In 1996 , the USMC launched the H - 1 upgrade program by signing a contract with Bell Helicopter for upgrading 100 UH - 1Ns into UH - 1Ys and upgrading 180 AH - 1Ws into AH - 1Zs . The H - 1 program created completely modernized attack and utility helicopters with considerable design commonality to reduce operating costs . The UH - 1Y and AH - 1Z share a common tail boom , engines , rotor system , drive train , avionics architecture , software , controls and displays for over 84 % identical components . The Y - model updates an airframe that has been central to the Marine Corps aviation in Iraq . The Huey has many mission requirements including command and control ( C2 ) , escort , reconnaissance , troop transport , medical evacuation and close air support . Typically detachments of 2 - 4 Hueys have been deployed with detachments of 4 - 8 Cobras . The forward mounted weaponry of the Cobra combined with the door guns of the Huey provides a 240° field of fire . Over the years new avionics and radios , in addition to modern door guns and safety upgrades , have greatly increased the UH - 1N ' s empty weight . With a maximum speed of approximately 100 knots ( 190 km / h ) and an inability to lift much more than its own crew , fuel and ammunition , the UH - 1N , while useful , is limited in its utility . The Y - model upgrades pilot avionics to a glass cockpit , adds further safety modifications and provides the UH - 1 with a modern FLIR system . However , the biggest improvement is an increase in engine power . By replacing the engines and the two bladed rotor system with four composite blades the Y - model will return the Huey to the utility role for which it was designed . Originally the UH - 1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH - 1N airframes , but in April 2005 approval was granted to build them as new helicopters . Bell delivered two UH - 1Ys to the U . S . Marine Corps in February 2008 . As of September 2009 , the UH - 1Y is in full - rate production , with the Marine Corps expected to have 21 by the end of the year . The Marine Corps plans to eventually buy 160 of the Y - models to replace their inventory of N - models , with aircraft deliveries to be completed by 2016 . Design . The UH - 1Y variant modernizes the UH - 1 design . Its most noticeable upgrade , as compared to previous variants , is a four - bladed , all - composite rotor system designed to withstand ballistics up to 23 mm . A 21 - inch ( 530 mm ) insert just forward of the main door has been installed for more capacity . The UH - 1Y features upgraded engines and transmission , a digital cockpit with flat panel multifunctional displays , and an 84 % parts commonality with the AH - 1Z . Compared to the UH - 1N , the Y - model has 125 % increased payload , almost 50 % greater range , and higher cruise speed . The UH - 1Y can keep up with the other helicopters it is supposed to be escorting rather than slowing them down . The UH - 1Y will have more power to maneuver aggressively and evasively . Ground forces commanders riding in the Y - model will have radios , fire power and the range to match the transport helicopters carrying their troops . Operational history . The UH - 1Y and AH - 1Z completed their developmental testing in early 2006 . During the first quarter of 2006 the UH - 1Ys were transferred to the Operational Test Unit at the NAS Patuxent River , where they began operational evaluation ( OPEVAL ) testing . In February 2008 , the UH - 1Y and AH - 1Z began the second and final portion of OPEVAL testing . On 8 August 2008 , the Marine Corps certified the UH - 1Y as operationally capable and was deployed for the first time in January 2009 as part of the aviation combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit .