The Russian-made Mikoyan MIG-29 fighter jet
performs during its demonstration flight at the 47th Paris Air Show in Le
Bourget, north of Paris, on June 20, 2007. (Remy de la Mauviniere/AP)
By: Jaroslaw Adamowski
WARSAW, Poland — Slovak Defense Minister Peter Gajdos
said that while the ministry has received offers from the U.S. to supply the
F-16 and Sweden to deliver the JAS-39 Gripen for its planned purchase of 14
fighter jets, MiGs aren’t under consideration.
“Certainly, no one is counting that we will purchase
MiGs,” Gajdos said, according to local daily Novy Cas. Earlier this month, he
said that Bratislava evaluated Russia’s offer to supply new aircraft, but this
was done to provide the ministry with a better negotiating position.
The planned procurement to replace Slovakia’s
Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-29 jets is valued at about €1.1 billion (U.S. $1.32
billion). Slovakia aims to acquire new fighter jets before 2019, when the
servicing deal for the MiG-29s is set to expire.
The ministry was expected to select the contractor by the
end of September, but Gajdos said he has requested six more months to make a
final decision. Deputy Defense Minister Robert Ondrejcsak was critical of the
delay, saying on Sept. 27 that Slovakia’s Air Force will be forced to “extend
its dependence on Russia.” Ondrejcsak represents the Most-Hid party, the
coalition partner of the Slovak National Party, which named Gajdos for the
position.
Other major planned procurements for the Slovak military
include the purchase of around 500 infantry fighting vehicles for about €1.2
billion (U.S. $1.4 billion).
Original post: defensenews.com
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