Slovakia is set to become the latest customer of the Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter, with US government approval for a buy announced on 31 July. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The US government has approved the sale of Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Slovakia.
Announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 31 July, the US Department of State approval covers 12 helicopters and related weapons and equipment, training, and support for an estimated USD600 million.
“The proposed sale will improve Slovakia's capability to meet current and future threats by providing the Slovak Air Force with aircraft to meet its national defence needs,” the DSCA said.
News of the approval came 16 months after then Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď announced in March 2023 that the country was to receive Viper attack helicopters from the US in exchange for transferring its MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' fighter fleet and the 2K12 ‘Kub' (NATO reporting name: SA-6 ‘Gainful') ground-based air-defence systems to Ukraine. Naď added that the transfer is also indirect compensation from the US government for the late delivery of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70 combat aircraft Slovakia ordered.
The deal is to be financed by the Slovak government and the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) scheme.
Slovakia is one of six customers for the AH-1Z, alongside Bahrain, the Czech Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan (contract suspended), and the US Marine Corps. The Philippines has also been approved for the type, while Romania has expressed its interest too.
For more information on the AH-1Z, please seeBell AH-1Z Viper .
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