First Vipers delivered to Czech Air Force
On 26 July 2023, a US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III delivered the first two Bell Bell AH-1Z Viper to the Vzdušné síly armády České republiky (CzAF, Czech Air Force) at Námest air base (Czechia).
The C-17A, serial 01-0191, departed Amarillo (TX) on 25 July and made a stop at Rota (Spain) before continuing to Czechia.
The two Vipers, serials 0486 and 0487, were off-loaded at their new home base and will be operated by 22.Základna Vrtulníkového Letectva (22.zL), which controls 221.vrtulníkovou letka and 222.vrtulníkovou letka (Helicopter Squadron) currently operating Mi-24V and Mi-35 attack helicopters and Mi-171Sh transport helicopters.
It is not yet known which squadron will operate the AH-1Zs, but this will become clear soon.
The Vipers are the first two of ten Vipers to be delivered. In September 2020, Bell Textron Inc. was awarded a contract for the production and delivery of four AH-1Z Viper and eight UH-1Y Venom helicopters for the Czech Air Force.
In August 2022, as part of the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) programme, the Pentagon decided to transfer eight former US Marine Corps (USMC) helicopters, six Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and two Bell UH-1Y Venom multipurpose helicopters, to the Czech Air Force. Together with the new built aircraft, Czechia will have of fleet of ten AH-1Z and ten UH-1Y helicopters.
Photos by Czech Armed Forces