Czech Republic orders H-1 helos

The Czech Republic has finalised a deal for 12 Bell H-1 helicopters to partially replace its ageing Warsaw Pact-era inventory, with a signing ceremony on 13 December.

The US Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, and Czech Republic Minister of Defence, Lubomir Metnar, signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for eight UH-1Y Venom utility and four AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters as part of a wider effort to phase out the country’s Soviet-built equipment.

No contract value was disclosed, but previously disclosed approvals for the sales put the UH-1Y purchase at USD575 million and the AH-1Z buy at USD205 million. Both approval values included weapons, equipment, training, spares, and support.

Bell noted that the aircraft will be delivered between 2023 and 2024.

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (Vzdusné Síly Armády Ceské Republiky: VS ACR) has a pressing need to replace many of its Warsaw Pact-era inventories, which include Mil Mi-2 ‘Hoplite’, Mi-8/17 ‘Hip’, and Mi-24 ‘Hind’ helicopters. The UH-1Y was cleared for sale to the country in October 2017, with the AH-1Z following suit in May of this year.

Developed for the US Marine Corps (USMC) alongside the AH-1Z, with which it shares more than 80% commonality, the UH-1Y is billed chiefly as a utility platform that would be suitable as a Mi-8/17 replacement for the VS ACR. However, its ability to carry 70 mm rockets and door-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns, coupled with its troop carrying capability makes the UH-1Y analogous to the Mil Mi-24 ‘Hind’ assault helicopter that the Czech Republic and other eastern European nations are looking to replace.