The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Slovakia of 12 Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters along with related equipment and services for an estimated cost of USD 600 million.
Slovakia requested to buy 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters as well as 26 T-700 GE 401C engines, 1,680 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) WGU-59/B and 14 Honeywell embedded global positioning systems/inertial navigation systems.
The package will also include a wide range of non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items such as support and test equipment, weapons and munitions, countermeasures, spare and repair parts, communication equipment, mission planning tools, and software support. Some notable components include the Helmet Mounted Display System/Optimized TopOwl, Target Sight Systems, ANVIS-9 night vision cueing displays, and advanced cryptographic equipment.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated that the 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 and that Slovakia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The Bell AH-1Z Viper is an advanced attack helicopter developed for the US Marine Corps and features a four-blade rotor system, a two-seat cockpit with glass displays, integrated weapons systems, stealth technology, and enhanced survivability. Armed with 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 three-barreled rotary cannon it has 6 total pylon stations to carry Hydra 70 and APKWS rockets, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles or AGM-179 JAGM air-to-surface missiles.
