NATO member Slovakia has edged a step closer to acquiring an attack helicopter capability, after the US Department of State approved a deal to supply it with 12 Bell AH-1Zs.
Worth a potential $600 million, the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme deal also will provide two spare GE Aerospace T700-401 engines, countermeasures equipment, and an armaments package including 1,680 BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets.
Cirium fleets data shows that the Slovak air force’s current rotary-wing fleet totals 13 Mil Mi-17s and nine Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks.
If finalised, the FMS deal will see Slovakia follow its neighbour the Czech Republic in fielding the AH-1Z: Prague has so far received four of the Bell type from an acquisition totalling 10 of the type, plus the same number of UH-1Y transports.
“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 US Defense Security Cooperation Agency says.
Bratislava’s broader military equipment modernisation effort also includes its acquisition of 14 Lockheed Martin F-16s. Its first pair of Block 70-standard fighters were recently flown to the country.
The incoming type replaces retired RAC MiG-29s already gifted to Ukraine by Slovakia.
