Ukraine in talks to buy 12 Viper helicopters
Dylan Malyasov | Sep 15, 2024Ukraine is in “active” negotiations with the U.S. to acquire 12 Bell AH-1Z Viper combat helicopters, originally produced for Pakistan and later offered to Slovakia, according to a report by Defense News.
The discussions come as Ukraine seeks to bolster its frontline capabilities amid ongoing combat operations in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions.
A senior industry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Slovakia had initially pursued a discounted deal for the helicopters. However, Bratislava has since shifted its focus toward other potential defense purchases, including F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems. This move has reportedly caused some frustration among U.S. officials, according to the source familiar with the talks.
Vadym Ivchenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliament from the Batkivshchyna party, told Defense News that Ukraine has been interested in acquiring the Viper helicopters since 2022. “These helicopters are crucial for our soldiers fighting on the front lines in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and conducting operations in the Kursk region,” Ivchenko said.
The AH-1Z Viper helicopters were initially ordered by Pakistan under two U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreements in 2015 and 2016, making Pakistan the first foreign customer for this advanced helicopter. The 12 helicopters were produced between mid-2017 and mid-2018 at Bell’s manufacturing facility in Amarillo, Texas. However, following the U.S. government’s decision in January 2018 to halt military aid to Pakistan due to political reasons . . .
https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-in-talks-to-buy-12-viper-helicopters/