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Czech Air Force will show its new Venom and Viper helicopters
At this year's NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days, the latest additions to the Czech Air Force's inventory - the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and the multirole UH-1Y Venom - will be presented for the first time.
These machines may be well known to regular visitors of the event, because in previous years helicopters from the US Marine Corps arsenal have also shown up at the Mošnov airport. Now, however, they will be seen in Czech colours for the first time, as the Czech Air Force took delivery of their first units in July as part of the modernisation process.
"The Czech Republic is the only country besides the USA that has both Viper and Venom helicopters. And it is a great honour for us that the Czech Army decided to introduce them to the general public at the NATO Days," said Zbyněk Pavlačík, Chairman of Jagello 2000. "At this year's edition, the Czech Air Force will also officially say goodbye to the Mi-24/35 attack helicopter, which is being replaced by the Venoms and Vipers."
Together, the Bell AH-1Z Viper twin-engine attack helicopter and the Bell UH-1Y Venom multi-role helicopter represent a complete system for transporting troops and wounded or providing fire support to ground forces. In arsenal of the Army of the Czech Republic, they replace the outdated Soviet Mi-171 and Mi-24 helicopters, which performed a similar role.
The Czech Republic will have ten Vipers and Venoms at its disposal in the future. Although, in 2019 was signed an agreement for the purchase of 12 machines, in return for the assistance to Ukraine, the US will donate 8 additional machines to the Czech republic. An interesting feature of the machines is that they share over 80% of their parts with each other, making them easier and cheaper to operate and maintain. Currently, only the Czech Republic and the US Marine Corps have both types of helicopters at their disposal, but the Vipers are also in service with the Bahrain Air Force. Slovakia, which has received a lucrative offer from the US for 12 Vipers to replace the MiG-29s donated to Ukraine, is also considering acquiring them.
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23rd NATO Days in Ostrava & 14th Czech Air Force Days!
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