WARSAW, Poland — The Czech Republic is planning to purchase extra UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters for its army, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the nation’s present fleet is “inadequate,” based on Protection Minister Jana Černochová.
“On the Ministry of Defence, we have now all of the conditions to catch up by way of protection spending as quickly as doable,” Černochová was quoted in an announcement launched by the ministry. The minister was referring to plans by Prague to extend its army expenditure to 2 p.c of the nation’s gross home product consistent with its dedication to NATO.
Throughout her latest assembly with U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin, Černochová mentioned the ministry’s curiosity in buying extra helicopters made by Bell Helicopters “as a result of it seems the 12 machines that the Czech army will obtain subsequent yr are inadequate as a result of present state of affairs” in Ukraine, based on the assertion.
The variety of the copters that the Czech Republic goals to amass was not disclosed. Nonetheless, native business observers count on Prague to buy an extra 12 helos on prime of its first order.
In 2019, the Czech authorities determined to purchase eight UH-1Y Venom and 4 AH-1Z Viper helos with associated gear and companies below a deal price about 14.5 billion koruna (US $645 million).
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Protection Information.