Czech Republic bolsters military with U.S. Venom helicopters

Two UH-1Y Venom helicopters were recently delivered to the Czech Republic onboard a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. This delivery is part of a significant military modernization effort undertaken by Poland's southern neighbor, signaling a pivot away from Soviet-era equipment to more contemporary machinery.

In a strategic overhaul that took place in 2023, the Czech Republic waved goodbye to its last Mi-24 helicopters, embracing advanced models produced by Bell Helicopter Textron—specifically, the AH-1Z Viper and the UH-1Y Venom.

This recent shipment from the United States included two UH-1Y Venom helicopters, bringing the Czech military's total to six. The ongoing contract will see the acquisition of two more Venoms, along with four AH-1Z Vipers.

Additionally, the Czech Republic will receive eight UH-1 family helicopters from the United States as a gesture of gratitude for their support to Ukraine.

While designed for distinct purposes and sporting different builds, performance capacities, and equipment, the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper share up to 85 percent of their components. This similarity offers considerable logistical, service, and maintenance advantages, and also means that pilots can train on the same flight simulator, streamlining the training process significantly.

The UH-1Y Venom, a versatile helicopter, measures 58.3 feet in length and 14.8 feet in height, with a maximum takeoff weight of 18,500 lb. It's propelled by two General Electric T700-GE-401C engines, each delivering 1,828 horsepower, enabling a top speed of 189 mph.

Its armament includes two machine guns—one 7.62 mm and one .50 cal—alongside the capability to carry air-to-ground missiles on two underwing stations. The Venom can accommodate up to 12 occupants: four crew members and eight passengers.

The AH-1Z Vipers being acquired by the Czech Republic, on the other hand, are assault helicopters with the same length as the Venoms. They come armed with a 20 mm cannon and can carry several larger missiles such as Hydra 70 rockets or guided Hellfire missiles.