Defence Ministry Deciding Between US and Swedish Jet Fighters

Defence Ministry Deciding Between US and Swedish Jet Fighters

Bratislava, February 2 (TASR) – The Defence Ministry is deciding between two bids for its purchase of jet fighters, particularly between the American F-16 aircraft and the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, the ministry’s spokesperson Danka Capakova told TASR on Friday.

“The ministry’s current management has never considered purchasing Russian jet fighters, and it isn’t considering it now, either,” stated Capakova.

Defence Minister Peter Gajdos (Slovak National Party/SNS) should present a new proposal for providing air space protection to the Government by June 29. The proposal will include detailed analyses, as well as a calculation of costs for the acquisition, operation and provision of infrastructure for the new type of aircraft, said Capakova.

Gajdos had asked the Government to change the resolution on securing jet fighters with regards to the unfeasibility of a bid that was communicated with the Swedish party at that time. “The process cannot be hastened, as we need to find the most advantageous bid from both a technical and economical viewpoint that will last for decades,” stated Capakova.