Czech military special (pictured on April 19, 2021).
Prague – The government squadron could be strengthened by two jets in the future. The government is negotiating with the Americans about their purchase, writes today's Lidové noviny (LN). The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense, Simona Cigánková, did not want to comment on the negotiations with the Americans, but she confirmed that the squadron will be expanded by two planes. The resort is now processing the specifications and will then issue a contract, she said. Behind the lack of air capacity for transporting the president, prime minister and other politicians is the gradual decommissioning of older machines.
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According to information from LN, a pair of new jets could transport constitutional officials in the future. The Czech Republic asked the United States for this in a special military cooperation program called Foreign Military Sale (FMS), the newspaper writes.
“We are in the early stages of negotiations with the Czech Ministry of Defense about business jets. But it is too early to discuss specific aircraft, systems or prices, as we are currently working with our Czech partners to determine their requirements and a potential solution from the US, Griffin Rozell, the press spokesman for the US Embassy in Prague, told the newspaper.
The Ministry of Defense did not want to comment on the negotiations with the Americans, but the spokeswoman of the department confirmed that the defense wants to buy two smaller machines. “The 241st squadron from the 24th base of the transport air force will be expanded with airplanes of the 'business jet' category,” said Cigánková. She added that the army is currently processing and commenting on the specifications, then the Ministry of Defense will issue a public order for the purchase of such aircraft that will most meet the requirements for the transport of constitutional officials. mainly two Airbus A-319CJs, each of them will transport a hundred people. The squadron also includes military transport aircraft CASA C-295M, but due to the shorter range and above all the higher noise inside the cabin, they are not suitable for trips to more distant places. The army is looking for a replacement for a pair of Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft for 26 passengers and a Bombardier CL-601 (Challenger) for 17 people, which were scrapped.
