Stewart Penney/LONDON
Four of the five bidders for the Czech Republic's CKr100 billion ($2.6 billion) supersonic fighter competition have withdrawn, leaving only the Saab/BAE Systems Gripen.
Saab/BAE, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, EADS Germany and Lockheed Martin received a request for proposals (RFP) in January to supply 24 or 36 supersonic fighters. Refurbished F-15, Mirage 2000-5Mk2, Eurofighter Typhoon and F-16C/D fighters were offered by the respective companies. The RFP calls for 150% offset, of which at least 20% must be defence or aerospace related.
The deadline for response is 31 May, but the defence minister's office says that it has been told by the US Government, Dassault and EADS they will not be responding.
The defence minister's office says that Czech prime minister Milos Zeman has stated that the fighter programme will continue, even if the country receives only one bid. It adds, however, that the government "has the opportunity to say there is no winner".
The Czech defence ministry requires documentation in Czech rather than English, prices in Czech koruna and that any arbitration in the event of a dispute must be in the Czech courts. US sources say these conditions are against the rules of the US foreign military sales process, which requires documentation in English and contracts to be valued in dollars.
European sources, however, say that Poland, where the F-16 is believed to be the lead contender, also requires RFP responses in the national language, and that the US has not objected.
Saab/BAE says it will "certainly be responding" to the RFP this week and it adds "in our view the process is open and transparent".
The Czech Republic has sought supersonic fighters since 1997, and some industry sources say there is "fatigue" setting in amongst manufacturers. The Czech parliamentary opposition is also against the programme. Earlier this month the Czechs decided to sell half the 72 locally built L-159 light combat aircraft it has on order from Aero Vodochody due to tight finances.
Offset plans were due to be submitted by 21 May. Saab/BAE has already signed up deals with a number of companies.
Source: Flight International
