Czech military to keep supersonic fighters after 2015
04.07.2012 08:16
CeskeNoviny: 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.
Under the resolution approved today, Vondra should inform the government about the talks' results by mid-2012. The government will then decide on further steps, Defence Minister spokesman Jan Pejsek said in a press release.
"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.
Today´s government decision means that the Czech Republic does not give up protection of its airspace by its own means and its commitments towards the allies, Vondra said.
The government today also nodded to the Defence Ministry´s proposal for preparing a tender for the purchase of radiolocation equipment.
Vondra reminded that airspace protection is not only about fighters but also about command and radar systems.
Chief of military staff Vlastimil Picek welcomed the government's decision.
"To secure the protection of our state's airspace by our own forces is the basic task of the military that ensues from the duty to protect our country's sovereignty," Picek said.
The possible loss of supersonic air force would be irreversible, he added.
The server E15.cz reported earlier today that the Defence Ministry would like to negotiate with Sweden on an extension of the lease of the Gripen supersonic fighters. The extension is recommended by a classified report that the government discussed today.
"It has been suggested that at first talks with Sweden should be held on the conditions of the continued lease even after 2015," an unnamed source close to the Government Office told the server.
Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) claimed in the past that the Czech Republic would declare a tender for fighters after the current contract of lease expired.
Until Prague receives all information about bribery in 2001, accompanying the Gripens deal, their supplier has no chance, Necas also said, adding that the Czech Republic would acquire fighters from another producer.
Eurofighter and the U.S. Lockheed Martin concern have expressed interest in the possible order.
Along with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Sweden, Jas-39 Gripens are also used by South Africa and Thailand at present and Switzerland recently decided to buy them, too.
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.
The British police prosecuted Austrian businessman Alfons Mensdorff-Pouilly, who worked in the Czech Republic as an adviser to British Swedish BAE Systems offering the Gripens, on suspicion of corruption. However, BAE Systems agreed with the U.S. and British authorities on a fine in exchange for halting the investigation.