The interim Czech government said it plans to resume its lease of JAS Gripen fighter jets, while a parliamentary committee in Switzerland said yes to a proposed 23 billion kronor ($3.5 billion) purchase of the Swedish-made warplanes.
Following two days of discussions of the deal that may see the Swiss military purchase 22 JAS Gripen jets, the safety and defence committee of the Swiss parliament voted 14-9 in favour of the deal. The deal now moves for a vote in front of the entire parliament on September 11th.
The committee had previously given the deal a thumbs up inside the spring, but some politicians expressed concerns, prompting the govt. to study and clarify the deal.
As the brand new Gripen E continues to be in development, there remains uncertainty to whether Saab and Sweden can deliver what they’ve promised and that Switzerland may result with what some called an “Ikea-plane” other than a “Super-JAS”.
Meanwhile, outgoing Czech prime minister Jiri Rusnok said this week that the govt. expects to resume its lease on 14 Swedish fighter jets beyond 2015.
“The negotiations are at a sophisticated stage. The ball is really in our court. The Swedes are awaiting our final answer to their recent offer,” he told reporters on Monday.
The new contract with Stockholm over the supersonic JAS-39 Gripen combat jets may be inked on the end of the year or in early 2014 by the recent government, he added. Snap elections are scheduled for late October.
The Czech military paid nearly $1 billion to lease the Gripens for a decade starting 2005. The aircraft include 12 one-seater JAS-39 Cs and two two-seater training JAS-39 Ds.
In July of last year, former Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said Stockholm was being “uncooperative” in regards to the renewal. In accordance with press reports, the Swedes were refusing to lower the lease price.
Necas stepped down in June amid a spy and bribery scandal. The president appointed a brand new technocratic government led by Rusnok, but that cabinet lost a confidence vote this month.
“The next government will make the ultimate decision at the Gripens, but this (Rusnok) cabinet will do its utmost to facilitate it,” Defence Minister Vlastimil Picek said Monday. He added that the brand new contract could be the next deal for the Czech Republic and valid for “a period longer than ten years”.
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