US orders nine combat helicopters for Pakistan

KARACHI: The Unites States has awarded contract for manufacture of nine combat helicopters that would be delivered to Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by US Defence Department on Tuesday, the $170 million contract has been awarded by the US Navy for manufacture and delivery of nine AH-1Z aircraft and as many fuel kits under the Foreign Military Sales program.

The choppers would be manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc in Texas, and are expected to be handed over to Pakistan after September 2018.

“Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $170,173,188 will be obligated at time of award,” said the statement.

The  AH-1Z is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Pakistan Army has been operating Bell AH-1F/S Cobra provided by the US since 1980s.

The army is battling an insurgency in the country's tribal region near Afghan border. Backed by the Pakistan Air Force, the ground troops have inflicted heavy losses on foreign and local terrorists since the launch of military operation Zarb-e-Azb since June 2015.