Procurement: March 8, 2001

Archives

: The Czech Ministry of Defense has issued a request for bids for 24-36 new supersonic multi-role fighters. They have invited bids from the Swedish Gryphon, US F-18E/F Super Hornet and F-16C50 Falcon, French Mirage-2000-5, and Eurofighter Typhoon. The Ministry of Defense expects the program to cost about $2.7 billion but critics inside the Czech parliament think the actual cost will be closer to $5 billion. The Czech government has set a tough benchmark for the program, demanding that bids include:

@ rock-bottom price not marked up for research & development

@ investment in and technology transfer to Czech companies

@ help in exporting Czech products equal to 150% of the cost of the aircraft.

Bids must be submitted by 31 May. A panel including five defense officials, nine bureaucrats from various ministries (finance, industry, trade, foreign affairs), and a technology professor will review the bids and make a recommendation by 30 September, so that an order can be placed on 31 Oct. The Czech government said it reserves the right to cancel the process at any point.--Stephen V Cole


 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close