Fighter budgets at risk as flood-devastated central European countries switch attention to cleaning up the mess
The Czech Republic is looking at buying or leasing used fighters, expanding its anti-aircraft systems or seeking support from allies in the wake of a review of its planned purchase of 24 Saab/BAE Systems Gripen fighters.
The country needs to use the CKr60 billion ($1.9 billion) that it had earmarked for the Gripen purchase to help pay for the massive clean-up operation after floods across Central Europe earlier this month.
The Czech Republic's deliberations come as Austria, which also suffered from floods, discusses reducing its Eurofighter Typhoon order. However, fellow flood victim Hungary is maintaining its commitment to lease 14 Gripens.
The Czech government has not formally cancelled the purchase, but has said that it cannot buy 24 aircraft. Saab says: "The way it was phrased means they may just buy fewer of them," adding: "We are anxious to go back to our Czech partner and see how we can work this out."
The Czech parliament was due to take a formal vote to ratify the contract, but this decision has been postponed until November while the government examines its options.
Czech defence minister Jaroslav Tvrd¡k, says 12-14 used aircraft could be sought for lease or purchase instead, with one possibility being Lockheed Martin F-16s. Prime Minister Vladim¡r Spidla is warning that, if the country does not have multirole fighters by 2005 when its Russian MiG-21s are decommissioned, then it must expand its anti-aircraft systems, which could be costlier than the Gripen purchase.
Deputy defence minister Stefan Fülle says this move would be unrealistic because anti-aircraft systems could cover only 30% of Czech airspace and, at a cost of CKr40 billion, would be two-thirds the cost of the Gripens.
Meanwhile, Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel is rethinking the €1.8 billion ($1.7 billion) purchase of 24 Typhoons, renegotiating for 18 instead. Industry sources, however, suggest that "this is primarily a political thing and was the situation even before the flooding. Payments for the Eurofighters would only start in 2005, so there is no money today for this procurement."
A petition signed by 650,000 people asking for a referendum to be held on the Eurofighter procurement was discussed by Austria's parliament on 19 August, but was defeated by the majority coalition.
Defence minister Herbert Scheibner has told local media that he wants to conclude contract negotiations by next month. An Austrian ministry of defence official says: "We are aware of the legal problems this change in numbers may lead to, so our legal experts are currently looking at the situation."
Source: Flight International
