Czechs raise Russian helicopter pilot training as US radar substitute
Czech PM proposes to train NATO pilots on Russian Mil helicopters at LOM airfield, but Czech military reportedly wants to offload its Mils
04.11.2011 - 10:26
During his Oct. 27 meeting in Washington with US President Barack Obama, Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas put forth a proposal for NATO pilots to be trained to fly Russian Mi-type helicopters at the LOM flight center in eastern Bohemia.
The Czech military, however, wants to swap 32 Mi-type helicopters for 16 Boeing MH-6 type helicopters, the weekly Ekonom reported; these developments have rekindled speculation over the coveted LOM enterprise’s future.
Mils for Boeings
But the Czech military’s own plans appear to run counter to the ambitions to develop the center and widen cooperation;
Ekonom’s article Thursday cited a confidential draft Defense Ministry plan for the Czech Air Forces helicopter fleet according to which the military would send eight of its giant Mi-17s and up to 24 of its Mi-24 combat helicopters to Afghanistan in exchange for 16 Boeing MH-6 helicopters —
eight transport versions and eight combat versions, the weekly said.
The Ministry of Defense informed Czech Position that plans for the expansion of pilot training in Pardubice are already under discussion
Ekonom’s information is surprising since the ministry’s forward-looking White Paper on Defense — a proposal for the future equipment and personnel of the Czech Armed Forces— calls for the offloading of combat helicopters in favor of transportation helicopters.
There are army MH-60 versions as well MH-60K (this model is unlikely to be available for export)and MH-60L and there is sure to be a 'MH' version of the new UH-60M.
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