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Ukraine Could Receive US Viper Attack Helicopters Sooner Than Expected

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
A US-made AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter operates during a field exercise under overcast skies. (Source: US DoD)
A US-made AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter operates during a field exercise under overcast skies. (Source: US DoD)

Ukraine could receive Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters sooner than expected, as the American manufacturer Bell currently has spare production capacity.

According to Defense Express on December 2, Bell Vice President Jeffrey Schloesser confirmed in an interview with Flight Global that the company is well-positioned to fulfill a Ukrainian order promptly, due to a light current workload.

The company’s production facility in Amarillo, Texas, is currently executing only one contract—for Nigeria. Previous orders for the US Marine Corps, Bahrain, and the Czech Republic have already been completed.

Bell is therefore capable of managing additional parallel contracts, although the exact size and delivery timeline of a future Ukrainian order remain undisclosed.

Ukraine officially launched the procurement process by signing a letter of intent in October. However, Defense Express notes that the financing mechanism for the deal—expected to approach $1 billion even for a small batch—has not yet been confirmed.

For reference, in 2019, the Czech Republic purchased four AH-1Z Vipers and eight UH-1Y Venoms for $622 million. Adjusted for inflation, a comparable deal today would cost over $800 million.

The potential order may have gained momentum following Slovakia’s 2024 decision to decline a discounted offer for 12 AH-1Z helicopters. Bratislava instead opted for 12 UH-60 Black Hawks from Sikorsky. This decision may have freed up additional manufacturing slots for a Ukrainian order.

The AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom share 85% of their components, which simplifies maintenance and logistics. While Ukraine’s total order volume is not yet public, Defense Express suggests the initial batch could mirror Slovakia’s canceled package, combining both attack and transport variants.

Schloesser also discussed broader lessons from helicopter deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war and the evolving role of rotorcraft on the modern battlefield, according to Flight Global.

However, detailed terms of Ukraine’s deal—including scope, funding source, and delivery timeline—are still pending final agreement.

Earlier, during the Farnborough Airshow, Bell proposed its Bell 407M combat helicopter for Ukraine. The company has now signaled deeper commitment by announcing plans to open a production facility in Ukraine.

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