In April, the Czech Defence Ministry and the consortium EADS signed a memorandum on understanding on the swap of five L-159s for one newly manufactured transport plane by the Spanish firm CASA C-295. The Defence Ministry said later it had repeatedly informed the Italian rival company about the possibility to put up its own bid that would include the swap. "The question of the redundant L-159s is crucial for the Defence Ministry.
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Czech military to buy 107 instead of 199 Pandur carriers - Euro ... respect, only one firm has complied with the condition," Defence Ministry spokesman Andrej Cirtek told CTK earlier. The memorandum, approved by the government, is the first step toward the talks on the planned swap and subsequent purchase of planes. Alenia Aeronautica has criticised the Czech government's plan. The Italian firm, which previously offered its own transport plane to the Czechs, asserts that the planned deal is not transparent. It said the Spanish firm manufactured the planes of the same class as the L-159. It seems to be strange that EADS wants to buy and resell light combat fighters as the L-159s, Alenia Aeronautica said earlier. EADS has offered to accept the five L-159s in exchange for one, newly produced tactical transport plane. "It has also submitted an offer to sell another three planes of this type, including logistics," Cirtek said. The draft memorandum includes the option for the EADS for another five L-159s and option for another CASAs for the Czech Republic that might be, if need be, replaced with an option for the transport Airbus A400M. The Defence Ministry is yet to conduct talks with EADS for some months and eventually draft an agreement for the government. The Czech military officials recently said the Czech Republic could also buy new transport planes from the USA such as the Hercules C-130J. The lifespan of the Soviet-made An-26s, used by the Czech military, will expire in 2015. Besides, their transport capacity is limited and their flying range is only 2000-3000 kilometres. The replacement of the transport planes is important for the transport of small contingents, paratroop operations and humanitarian aid.
(Ceske Noviny)
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