Czech Republic cancels aircraft procurement. (Washington Pulse).Catastrophic floods throughout Europe--causing extensive property damage throughout Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic--prompted Czech Minister of Defense Jaroslav Tvrdik, to announce the likely cancellation of the purchase of 24 Gripen fighters for the Czech air force The Czech Air Force, ICAO code CEF, is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Ground Forces, comprises the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. .The approximately $3 billion in damages caused by the floods in the Czech Republic Czech Republic, Czech Česká Republika (2005 est. pop. 10,241,000), republic, 29,677 sq mi (78,864 sq km), central Europe. It is bordered by Slovakia on the east, Austria on the south, Germany on the west, and Poland on the north. has forced the government to rearrange re·ar·range tr.v. re·ar·ranged, re·ar·rang·ing, re·ar·rang·es To change the arrangement of. re its budgetary priorities, said Petr Janousek, press officer at the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Gripen--made by Saab Aerospace, of Sweden and BAE Systems BAE Systems British manufacturer of aircraft, missiles, avionics, naval vessels, and other aerospace and defense products. BAE Systems was formed (1999) from the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) with Marconi Electronic Systems. , of the United Kingdom--would have replaced the Czech air force's current fleet of MiG-21s, slated to be retired by 2004, Janousek said. If the Gripen deal is cancelled, the Czech government may decide to upgrade the MiG fleet. BAE and Saab have offered the Czechs a new deal to purchase a smaller fleet of fighters. |
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