The U.S. State Department approved the sale of four AH-1Z attack helicopters to Czech Republic to use these helicopters to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its homeland defense, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO partner that is an important force for ensuring peace and stability in Europe.  The proposed sale will support the Czech Republic’s need for its own self-defense and support NATO defense goals,” the DSCA said in a statement released late on Friday.

The Czech Republic has requested to buy four AH-1Z attack helicopters, eight T700-GE-401C engines (installed), eight Honeywell Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) and Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (installed), and fourteen AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

The total estimated program cost is $205 million.

The purchase of the AH-1Z attack helicopters and related equipment, estimated to cost around $205 million, is part of Czech armed forces upgrade.

The Bell AH-1Z is built to meet the expeditionary requirements of the United States Marine Corps. With virtually identical front and rear glass cockpits, fully integrated weapons, avionics and communications systems, the marinized Bell AH-1Z flies with the most advanced aircraft weapons and survivability equipment in the world. The Zulu is the only attack helicopter in the world with a fully-integrated air-to-air missile capability. Target identification is crucial in the modern battlefield.

According to Bell Helicopter, the Bell AH-1Z’s Target Sight System provides the longest range and highest accuracy of any helicopter sight in the world.

Also, the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Czech Republic of twelve UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $800 million.