Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Czech Republic flag carrier CSA have combined to bid for a 35-40% holding in trainer and light-attack aircraft producer Aero Vodochody. The US manufacturers say that they plan to use the Czech company to produce components for Boeing airliners and assemble MDC's F-18, if the aircraft is selected by the Prague Government in a competition now under way to find a new fighter for the air force. Czech company Cimex Holdings was the only other bidder at the time of the deadline. Lockheed Martin and British Aerospace/Saab are believed to have asked Prague for an extension to the tender closing date.
Source: Flight International