Czech Republic expected to renew lease on Swedish Gripen fighter jets

Czech Defence Minister Vlastimil Picek will propose that the Czech Republic renew its lease on 14 Swedish fighter jets beyond 2015. The minister said on Saturday he would present the government with the proposal next week and expected to see it approved. The new contract with Stockholm on the renewed lease of supersonic JAS-39 Gripen combat jets could be inked at the end of the year or in early 2014 by the new government. According to the minister the new contract will be a better deal for the Czech Republic and would be valid for a period longer than 10 years. The Czech army paid nearly 20 billion crowns (780 million euros, 1 billion US dollars) to lease the Gripens for a decade starting 2005.