US offers 6 Bell AH-1Z and 2 UH-1Y helicopters to Czech Republic.

The United States announced on Friday, August 19 that it would donate eight combat and multirole helicopters to the Czech Republic, a member of NATO. The Czech Republic has been a major supplier of military equipment to Ukraine since the February 24 Russian invasion.

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  A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aircraft Group 49, Marine Forces Reserve, flies over Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chasse during the New Orleans Air Show, March 19, 2022 (Picture source: Cpl. Brendan Mullin, Marine Forces Reserve)

The six AH-1Z combat helicopters and two UH-1Y multirole helicopters will be offered under the Excess Defense Articles program, the US Embassy in Prague said: "The Czech Republic will only pay for the upgrade and transport of the equipment," the US Embassy said on Twitter.

In 2019, Prague announced the purchase of eight UH-1Y and four AH-1Z helicopters made by Texas-based Bell Corporation to replace obsolete Russian-made Mi-35/24s. The 20 helicopters are expected to be delivered in 2023.