WARSAW – Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky has unveiled plans to acquire new transport aircraft and helicopters. The two tenders are expected to be launched in 2015, reports local daily Mlada fronta DNES.
Asked about the possibility of awarding the procurements to Russian manufacturers, Stropnicky said the new aircraft will be purchased from companies based in NATO member states.
"We should purchase from secure countries," Stropnicky said.
Under the plan, the Czech ministry will acquire one or two transport aircraft that will be added to the military's four C295 planes, and an undisclosed amount of new helicopters. The aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2018, according to the official. The new copters are designed to replace the military's Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17, Mi-171 and Mi-24 helos.
Stropnicky said the ministry will earmark about 1.5 billion krona (US $67.6 million) per transport aircraft. The minimum price per copter is 350 million krona, the minister said.
In addition to the two procurements, the Czech Armed Forces are also aiming to acquire new radars, with the ministry earmarking about 1.3 billion krona for the planned purchase.
In 2014, the Czech Republic's defense spending totaled 41.99 billion krona, representing about 1.08 percent of the country's gross domestic product. ■
Email: jadamowski@defensenews.com.
