RYZSARD JAXA-MALAKOWSKI / WARSAW
Ministry looks at secondhand aircraft while studying air defence tie-up with Slovakia
The Czech defence ministry is evaluating offers of new and used aircraft, having formally abandoned its plan to acquire 24 Saab/BAE Systems Gripens in mid-November. The defence ministry has also stepped up its evaluation of a proposal to integrate its air defences with neighbouring Slovakia's.
The Gripen was ordered by the Czech Republic late last year, but the CKr60 billion ($2 billion) deal could not be concluded before elections earlier this year.
The Czech air force needs to replace its Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbeds by 2004, and a fighter selection is planned by year-end. The defence ministry requested proposals from France, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the USA.
Prague is seeking 12-14 new or used aircraft, with options including the Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornet, Dassault Mirage 2000, Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-16, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and RSK MiG-29. Sources in Prague say Belgium, Canada and Turkey, all of which have surplus fighters, have also been approached.
Parallel to the competition the Czech government is considering joint air defence with Slovakia (Flight International, 23-29 July). The move could see Slovak air force MiG-29s and Czech Aero Vodochody L-159s providing a layered air defence. Slovakia's selection last week as a new NATO member makes the proposal more practical.
The Czech government has considered modifying the L-159 for air defence, which would also provide a use for the 36 L-159s that the Czech air force has ordered but said it will not put into service.
Czech defence minister Jaroslav Tvrdik has been ordered to establish negotiations with his Slovakian counterpart and to report back by the middle of December. The Slovak government, meanwhile, has proposed that fellow Visegrad nations Hungary and Poland should be invited to participate.
A Czech/Slovak air defence solution is expected to receive parliamentary support as it promises to be the lowest-cost option. It has also been suggested that the move will allow a joint fighter purchase as Slovakia is due to shortly begin a search for supersonic fighters.
Meanwhile, there is concern that the Gripen decision will affect future industrial offsets. Saab, BAE and their partners have started various projects, many of which are well advanced and cancellation would be expensive. Industry sources are concerned that unless the government finds a solution companies will be reluctant to start offset before deals are finalised.
Source: Flight International
