Czechs to get eight helicopters for free from US

Czechia is to receive eight helicopters free of charge from the United States, the Czech minister of defence, Jana Černochová, said on Thursday evening. Six will be combat helicopters and the remaining two will be transport aircraft, she told Czech Television.

The US Embassy in Prague said the Czech side would only pay for the transport and modernisation of the helicopters.

The Czech Army had previously ordered eight Viper and four Venom helicopters from the American company Bell at a cost of CZK 14.6 billion. The newly announced donation means it will have a total of 20 US helicopters.