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Czech gov't approves sale of L-159 aircraft to Iraq

Xinhua, March 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

After a government meeting on Monday, Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky announced the government had approved the sale of 15 redundant L-159 combat planes to Iraq for 750 million crowns (about 30 million U.S. dollars) via Aero Vodochody aircraft company.

The Czech defence ministry reached an agreement with Aero Vodochody on the supply of L-159 to Iraq at the end of August 2014. The company will first buy the aircraft from the Czech military and then resell them to Iraq. Aero Vodochody will ensure that the planes are operable and fitted with further equipment and ammunition. It will also oversee the training of pilots and ground staff.

Of the 15 L-159 fighters designated for the Iraqi military, 11 are inactive and four have been used by Czech soldiers. Ten of the fighters are one-seat and two are two-seat, the other three planes will be dismantled to provide spare parts.

The Czech military has been trying to sell the redundant L-159s for many years. Endit