Ukraine 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—primarily over concerns that Pakistan was not doing enough to combat Taliban forces and radical Islamist groups near the Afghan border—the helicopters were never delivered.
As a result, all 12 AH-1Z helicopters were transferred to temporary storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona between 2018 and 2019.
Ukraine’s interest in acquiring these helicopters comes amid its ongoing war with Russia, where the need for advanced military equipment has grown. The Vipers, equipped with cutting-edge technology and capable of precision strikes, could provide Ukrainian forces with a much-needed edge on the battlefield.
The outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain, but the potential transfer of these helicopters would mark a significant upgrade in Ukraine’s air capabilities as it continues to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.