Prague - For almost ten years, the Czech Defense Ministry has been trying to get rid of 36 unused L-159 fighter jets bought for hundreds of millions of euros.
Today it has been announced by Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek and Czech aircraft manufacturer AERO Vodochody that American company Draken International will buy 28 of them. However, the deal will have to be approved by the outgoing technocratic government of Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok.
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The US company is allegedly interested in buying 24 serviceable planes and four jets for spare parts. It will pay between CZK 434 million and CZK 516 million (EUR 15.9 million and 18.9 million), depending on the equipment of individual jets. The ministry will invest the revenue into the development of a new model of the L-159.
Originally, the Czech military bought 72 L-159 fighter jets for CZK 51 billion (EUR 1.9 billion), but it turned out that the air force needed only around half of them.
Picek believes that the ministry will successfully complete the deal. According to the contract, Draken International will initially receive 12 serviceable planes and two jets for spare parts. If the company is satisfied with their condition, it will use the option and buy the rest of the planes.
The basic price of each jet is CZK 15.5 million. Those equipped with serviceable radars cost CZK 16.9 million and those that also have radiolocation devices cost CZK 18.9 million.
The unused planes are preserved in special wrappings, which means that the buyer cannot inspect their condition beforehand.
The ministry will present the contract to the government for approval in the second week of December at the latest, said Picek. If the government agrees, the contract will be signed in January 2014 and the first delivery will be made in March.
Draken International operates more than 50 fighter jets and provides training mostly to American military pilots.
Aero Vodochody praises the deal as an opportunity to gain an important partner in the Americas. The aircraft manufacturer hopes that the deal will allow it to win contracts also from Central and South American clients in the future.
