Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/AH-1Z Viper

"Viper, ready for action!"

-AH-1Z VIper leaving the Heliport

The AH-1Z Viper is the standard light attack chopper of the Federation of Aquila. Planned to be voiced by Kayleigh McKee, emulating the personality of the Apache Guardian from Act of Aggression.

History
The origins of the Viper can be traced back to the 1960s V.C., when the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter was first introduced into the Aquilan arsenal. Seeing action in Lustria and later in the Desert Rage, the First Encantadian War and Voshkod invasion of Aquila, the Cobra and its variants would remain in service by Aquila and other nations well into the present time.

Even now, close to a century after its introduction, a descendant of the Cobra still remains in use with several branches of the Aquilan military. First introduced in 2010 V.C., the AH-1Z Viper is a heavily modernized version of the Cobra, armed with a 20mm gatling cannon, Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and optional Hydra rocket pods.

Various upgrades to avionics and electronics over the years have helped to keep the Viper on par with more modern helicopters, even though its weapons have remained mostly unchanged. As such, in spite of its age, the Viper remains one of the most agile helicopters in service, excellent for scouting, ambushing and harassment.