The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Bell Textron Inc. nearly $272 million in contract related to the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters for the government of the Czech Republic.
The contract award from Naval Air Systems Command enables the company to produce and deliver eight UH-1Y and four AH-1Z helicopters for the Czech Republic.
Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60%); and Amarillo, Texas (40%), and is expected to be completed in November 2023.
Also stated that Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $272,161,641 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
On December 2019, U.S. Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Czech Defense Minister Lubomir Metnar met at the Pentagon to finalize the sale of H-1 helicopters.
The defense leaders took part in a ceremonial signing of the agreement today following a meeting in which they discussed their long-standing defense relationship as well as mutual security concerns, according to a defense official.
The procurement will replace its aging Russian Mi-24, Mi-35 and Mi-171 helicopters. As part of the army modernization and compliance with NATO standards, the Czech Republic is planning to replace 30-35 ageing helicopters, which are currently in use and almost have come out of use.