The US Marine Corps is integrating a new beyond-line-of-sight missile onto the AH-1Z Viper — the same helicopter Bell Textron is pursuing to supply to Ukraine under a landmark industrial partnership signed in October 2025.
The US Marine Corps has awarded L3Harris an $86.2 million contract to develop, test and manufacture the Red Wolf missile for the Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter. The same AH-1Z is at the centre of a potential arms deal between Bell Textron and Ukraine’s Armed Forces, formalised through letters of intent signed in Washington in October 2025 — creating the prospect of Ukraine eventually operating one of the longest-range helicopter-launched weapons in the world.
Red Wolf is part of the US Navy’s Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) programme. Following 52 successful live-fire tests — including a low-altitude engagement of a sea-based target from an AH-1Z over the Atlantic Test Range in September 2025 — the missile is entering series production at a planned rate of up to 1,000 units per year from 2026.
Red Wolf — key specifications:
- 370 km maximum strike range (200+ nautical miles)
- 52 successful flight tests completed
- $86.2M L3Harris contract awarded Jan. 30, 2026
- ~$300K Estimated unit cost at volume production
A weapon that keeps helicopters out of harm’s way
Red Wolf’s defining advantage is the ability to strike targets far beyond the pilot’s line of sight — and well outside the reach of modern air defence systems. The missile operates autonomously at high-subsonic speeds for over 60 minutes after launch. By contrast, the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-179 JAGM missiles currently carried by AH-1Z Vipers have effective ranges of only 8–16 kilometres.
Red Wolf belongs to L3Harris’s modular “Wolf Pack” family, which also includes the Green Wolf — a non-kinetic electronic warfare variant capable of jamming and blinding enemy sensors. Both missiles can be reconfigured with different warheads, fuel tanks, or EW payloads depending on the mission. Alongside helicopters, the system can be launched from drones and ground vehicles.
“Recent conflicts and incursions over NATO airspace demonstrate the urgent need for cost-effective alternatives to exquisite munitions. Red Wolf can bring affordable mass to the Marines’ arsenal.” — Christopher Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris
Bell Textron and Ukraine: the deal on the table
On October 20, 2025, Bell Textron, Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Ecology and Agriculture, and UkraineInvest signed letters of intent covering potential procurement of both the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. The framework includes options for local assembly, maintenance, personnel training and technology transfer inside Ukraine. If formally approved, the transaction would proceed as a Foreign Military Sale under US government oversight.
The AH-1Z and UH-1Y are designed as a complementary pair sharing 85% common components — significantly reducing logistics complexity and operating costs. At roughly $35 million per aircraft, the Viper is considerably cheaper than the AH-64 Apache ($52 million), making it a more realistic option for Ukraine’s constrained defence budget.
Context: President Zelensky has announced new helicopter units dedicated to countering Russian drone attacks. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi stated that under favourable conditions, helicopter crews can destroy up to 40% of hostile drones detected in their area of operations. An AH-1Z armed with Red Wolf would allow those same crews to operate at standoff distances — engaging targets far beyond the threat envelope of enemy air defences.
Strategic significance for Ukraine
The combination of AH-1Z and Red Wolf would give Ukraine a qualitatively new capability: precision strikes at ranges of up to 370 km from a mobile, flexible airborne platform — without exposing the aircraft to modern air defences, since the missile is released well before the helicopter enters the enemy’s engagement zone.
The deal remains at the letter-of-intent stage. Final implementation requires formal US government approval and dedicated financing — both still pending.