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Czech military to keep supersonic fighters after 2015
published: 01.02.2012, 21:49 | updated: 01.02.2012 21:51:51
Prague - The Czech Republic will keep supersonic aircraft even after 2015 when the lease of the Swedish Jas-39 Gripen fighters expires, the government decided today, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) confirmed after the cabinet's meeting.
However, the government has postponed the final decision about the way of acquiring fighters for the Czech air force until the economic situation improves, Necas said.
The government assigned Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra to negotiate with the Swedish government's representatives about "a bridging solution" to enable a further use of the 14 Jas-39 Gripens.
In the current economic situation, also with regard to public budgets, the government does dot consider it right to declare a tender that should definitively solve the problems of airspace protection," Necas said.
He estimated that the "bridging period" should not last more than five years. Them the cabinet should make the final decision about air defence, he added.
Vondra noted that all options are still open.
"The economic criterion is of a key importance to us," he told reporters.
The Czech Republic leased 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighters from the Swedish government until 2015 for 19.6 billion crowns. The contract was signed in 2004.
Information on the alleged corruption around the planned purchase of the Jas-39 Gripen fighters surfaced in the Swedish television's reports in February 2007.