US approves $600M sale of AH-1Z attack helicopters to Slovakia

The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Slovakia, comprising AH-1Z attack helicopters and associated equipment and services, valued at approximately $600 million. 

Slovakia’s request takes in twelve AH-1Z attack helicopters, twenty-six T-700 GE 401C engines, 1,680 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), and fourteen Honeywell GPS/inertial navigation systems (INS). Additional support items comprise aircraft and weapons, countermeasures, communications equipment, and comprehensive training and logistical support. 

“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 defense needs,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency commented. 

Primary contractors for this sale are Bell Textron in Fort Worth, Texas, and General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts. 

Slovak Air Force revitalizes combat power with new attack helicopters and fighter jets 

The Slovak Air Force has had no attack helicopter capability since 2011, when it retired its Soviet-made Mil Mi-24 Hind gunships.  

Based on the AH-1 Cobra, the Bell AH-1Z Viper is an attack helicopter initially designed for the US Marine Corps in the 1990s. It is powered by T-700 GE 401C engines, features an M197 three-barreled rotary cannon and can fire precision munitions such as Hellfire missiles and APKWS. 

Slovakia is also replenishing its fighter jet fleet. It retired its 11 MiG-29s in 2022, before transferring them to Ukraine in 2023. In January 2024, the Slovak Air Force received its first two Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets. 

Lockheed Martin delivers first two F-16 Block 70 fighters to Slovakia

DefensebyClement CharpentreauJanuary 11, 2024

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