LUBOMIR SEDLAK / PRAGUE
Four central European states are discussing co-operative upgrade programmes for their Russian-built Mil Mi-24 Hind combat helicopters. The initiative was agreed by defence ministers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia at recent negotiations.
Jindrich Ploch, director of the Czech national arms procurement agency, says each of the Visegrad countries will choose an element of the helicopter, such as the engines or fuselage, to concentrate on.
Around 100 Mi-24s could be renovated, at a cost estimated at between CKr15-20 billion ($400-540 million).
Ploch suggests that a Czech state-owned company, LOM Malesice, which specialises in helicopter maintenance, could be asked to co-ordinate the project.
The Czech government initially proposed the initiative to the three other countries. The programme is the latest in a series of proposals for the Visegrad countries to co-operate on defence procurement.
Modernised Mi-24s would allow the Czech armed forces to participate in NATO operations. They could also be used for anti-terrorism operations, carrying airmobile troops in the 10-seat cabin.
Poland has already started the search for an avionics upgrade to NATO standards for its 40 Mi-24s.
A life-extension programme to keep the helicopters in service until 2015-17 is expected to be implemented at the same time the avionics work is performed.
Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski has confirmed that Poland is now seeking 48 new fighters rather than a mix of 16 used and 44 new-build aircraft.Source: Flight International
