America has provided to promote Slovakia 12 new Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters at a two-thirds low cost after Slovakia despatched its retired MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Na? mentioned his authorities nonetheless needed to approve the deal beneath which it will pay $340 million over three to 4 years for a package deal price greater than $1 billion. The rest can be coated beneath the U.S. Overseas Army Financing programme. This provide is massively advantageous and can considerably enhance the defence potential of the Slovak Republic. The Slovak Air Power at present would not have assault helicopters, so it will be a totally new fight functionality.
The Slovak Air Power, identified since 2002 because the Air Power of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic is the aviation and air protection department of the Slovak Armed Forces. It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Power along with the Czech Air Power in 1993 with 23 plane and 10 helicopters. The Slovak Air Power is a part of NATO Built-in Air Protection System – NATINADS. The Slovak Air Power is tasked with the protection of the sovereign Slovak state and the help of the nation’s floor troops. Following the retirement of the Mikoyan MiG-29 in 2022, 7 L-39 Albatros present the function fast-jet functionality to the air power, awaiting the supply of American F-16 Combating Falcon plane in 2024.
Commercial
The Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine assault helicopter produced by the American aerospace producer Bell Helicopter. Each has a further wingtip station for a missile such because the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Every stub wing has two different stations for two.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket pods, or AGM-114 Hellfire quad missile launchers. The AN/APG-78 Longbow fireplace management radar can be mounted on a wingtip station. Each has a further wingtip station for a missile such because the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Every stub wing has two different stations for two.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket pods, or AGM-114 Hellfire quad missile launchers. The AN/APG-78 Longbow fireplace management radar can be mounted on a wingtip station.
The primary export buyer was the Royal Bahraini Air Power, the Czech Air Power has additionally ordered the sort, which sought to retire its Soviet-era Mil Mi-24 gunships. In December 2019, the Czech Republic finalized the sale with the U.S. of eight UH-1Ys and 4 AH-1Zs for the Czech Air Power. In March 2022, Czech Protection Minister Jana Cernochova introduced plans to purchase additional helicopters, attributing this determination to the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine. The variety of the copters that the Czech Republic goals to accumulate was not disclosed. Nevertheless, native business observers anticipate the Czech Air Power to buy an extra 12 helocopters on high of its first order.
