The military is planning to buy six two-seat planes from Aero Vodochody. “In accordance with the conceptual framework for the air forces, the Czech Army can prospectively operate 10 two-seat L-159 T1 airplanes, which are to replace the 10 L-39ZA training planes. Currently the Armed Forces have four planes with dual controls including two newly acquired ones,” Jan Pejšek, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, told Czech Position.
If the costs for producing these fighters are calculated in the same manner as they were previously, the Ministry of Defense will have to pay Aero Vodochody more than Kč 1.3 billion.
In the past the Armed Forces, quite illogically, got rid of two L-159 T1 jet fighters that it used for training. These planes were part of a deal with the consortium European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) in which the Czech side acquired CASA C-295M military transport aircraft. The ministry had previously stated that it would not touch planes that are flown by Czech pilots. The ministry subsequently sought a replacement for the missing training planes.
‘The used planes that are to be exchanged for the CASA aircraft will be replaced by newly made planes’
“The used planes that are to be exchanged for the CASA aircraft will be replaced by newly made planes. In May this year the ministry signed a Kč 200 million contract for this purpose.” Defense Ministry spokesman Jan Pejšek stated in November.
Czech Position found out that these “two newly acquired” two-seater fighters cost the Ministry of Defense treasury Kč 20 million more than was previously stated. In mid-December, the ministry reacted to a question on the contract’s price with more specific information.
“In May 2009 a Kč 200 million contract was signed with Aero Vodochody for refitting four unnecessary L-159 planes into two L-159 T1, planes” Pejšek said. Parts from two single seat L-159s are used to make one two-seat fighter.
According to Czech Position information, the Armed Forces will have to pay Aero Vodochody a further Kč 200 million for general repairs to the fighters. Pejšek added that the two-seat L-159 T1 must undergo repairs after eight years or 2,000 flying hours. “It is assumed that they will undergo general repairs in 2018. Until then only the prescribed work after a set number of hours is carried out on the planes by the air base,” Pejšek said.
