The Czech government has postponed signing a contract with Saab/BAE Systems for 24 Gripen fighters until the end of September. The move follows rejection by the parliamentary upper chamber's senate defence committee. It had planned to sign the deal by 30 June, which would have cleared the purchase before national elections. The upper chamber of parliament, meanwhile, was due to vote on 31 May on the bill to finance the fighters. If the senators accept the bill, the purchase could still be approved by Czech president V clav Havel.
Source: Flight International
