CZECH DEFENCE minister Wilem Holan is at loggerheads with the parliamentary Defence and Security Committee over whether to push forward with an upgrade for the air force's obsolescent Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbed fighters.
Despite the committee's "emphatic" recommendation that the proposed upgrade project be dropped, Holan is wed to pursuing the programme.
Holan says that the air force will proceed with a programme to upgrade the MiG-21. Two aircraft are to be modified as prototypes for any larger programme. Holan wants to upgrade at least 24 aircraft.
Vladimir Suman, chairman of the committee, says: "We collectively agreed that the upgrade would not be to the taxpayer's benefit, and it would be better for the air force if we purchased modern aircraft in the future."
Israeli company Elbit, teamed with Aero Vodochody, and Israel Aircraft Industries, with its partners Letecke Opravarny Malesice and Letecke Oprarvarny Kbely, are bidding for the business.
The proposed upgrade includes replacing Russian identification-friend-or-foe and navigation equipment with Western avionics.
Source: Flight International