Image source: topwar.ru
Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nagy announced the proposal of the US leadership to send 12 Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters of its own production to the country in order to make up for the losses of Bratislava due to the MiG-29 multi-purpose fighters supplied to Kiev to be replaced.
Here is what the head of the Slovak defense ministry wrote about it on his page on social networks:
As follows from the Slovak media reports, 10 MiG-29s with power plants in them may arrive in Ukraine, while 3 more aircraft will be sent without engines.
The minister also reported on the cost of American equipment, which, according to him, reaches more than $ 1 billion. This will cost the country's defense budget, as Nagy clarified, $ 340 million (26.2 billion rubles) – expenses that the state is going to cover in the next 3-4 years. As for the rest of the funds – $660 million (50 billion rubles), it will be allocated through the defense fund of the United States Government.
The head of the Slovak military department also recalled the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from Washington, whose deliveries are delayed by 2 years due to the shortage of electronic equipment faced by manufacturing companies. He said that the arrival of the aforementioned helicopters in the country would be some kind of compensation due to the situation around the F-16.
Nagy emphasized.
According to the official, this proposal from Washington is extremely profitable and suits Bratislava, which in this case will be able to gain 660 million euros (54.7 billion rubles) by selling 13 outdated MiGs and a smaller part of the KUB air defense system, receiving in return new improved helicopters with all components and a variety of modern missiles. In addition, the country will be provided with funds in the amount of 200 million euros (16.5 billion rubles) in cash from the European Peace Fund for MiGs and 50 million euros (4.1 billion rubles) for the KUB system.
