The Czech Republic signed an agreement at the Pentagon Dec. 12 to buy eight UH-1Y Venom and four AH-1Z Viper helicopters to replace its Mi-24 fleet. The sale signals the Czech Republic’s commitment to modernizing its armed forces and the nation’s continuing allegiance to NATO, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters. “Secondly, it reaffirms another major step forward in the cooperation between our two countries,” he said.