Plans for joint Czech-Slovak Gripen squadron falters

Hopes to form a joint Czech-Slovak Gripen squadron has been dashed as Slovak lacked the money to acquire the fighters, Lidové Noviny reports.

Selfie in a Czech Saab Gripen as it patrols Icelandic airspace
Milan Nykodym [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The idea was for Slovak to acquire eight Gripens to form a unit together with 14 Gripens from Czech Republic. The jets will split between Čáslav, in central Bohemia, and Sliac, in central Slovakia.

Slovak Defense Ministry spokeswoman Martina Balleková said talks with Sweden centered around the leasing of flight hours. However, there are signs that the talks are not progress as Slovak started talks with RSK MiG on how to extend the life of its MiG-29 fleet since October.

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