AH-1Z Viper. Photo: Wikimedia
The United States has greenlit the sale of twelve AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Slovakia, in an impressive $600 million contract. This deal, involving giants such as Bell Textron and General Electric, promises to transform Slovakia’s military capabilities.
+ Click here to see the video of the first AH-17 from Czech Republic
The information was disclosed on the official website of the Office of Military Cooperation of the US Department of Defense. In addition to the helicopters, the package includes 26 T-700 GE 401C engines, 1,680 unguided APKWS rockets, 20 mm ammunition, helmets, electronics, and various other advanced equipment.
The contract value also covers the training of crews and ground personnel, as well as the establishment of all necessary infrastructure to operate these state-of-the-art war machines.
The delivery of the AH-1Z Vipers, along with the related weapons and equipment, is expected to be completed within three years. It is important to note that the helicopters will not be new but will be upgraded and equipped with the latest technological systems.
Thanks to intense negotiations between the US and Slovak governments, the purchase price was significantly reduced from a figure that could exceed one billion dollars to the current $600 million.
High-Tech Modernization
The AH-1Z Viper helicopters are an advanced version of the AH-1W SuperCobra, designed by Bell Helicopter. Equipped with a 20 mm automatic cannon, six hardpoints for Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and even AIM-9L air-to-air missiles, these vehicles are a force to be reckoned with.
Developed as part of the modernization program for the US Marine Corps, the AH-1Z Viper offers exceptional combat capabilities with a four-blade composite rotor, updated transmission, and a new targeting system.
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Slovakia Follows in the Footsteps of the Czech Republic
It is worth noting that the Czech Republic, Slovakia’s neighbor, also uses the AH-1Z Viper, reinforcing the trend of military modernization in the region.
Source: dsca.mil / mil.in.ua. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
