LN: Four companies interested in Czech military aircraft

Prague, Jan 23 (CTK) - Four private companies are interested in the purchase of eight unused L-159 fighters from the Czech military, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes Wednesday.

A special Defence Ministry commission will secretly assess and evaluate their bids Wednesday, LN writes.

The Czech Aero Vodochody aviation technology maker can be expected to have the biggest chances, it adds.

The military stores the fighters in its hangars.

"We would like to use the aircraft for foreign clients and for training," said Tereza Kryspinova, spokeswoman for Aero Vodochody that manufactured the aircraft, is quoted as saying.

An offer was also submitted by the firm THT Ostrava CZ that would like to buy all the eight planes, Michal Kamas, chairman of the THT Ostrava board, said.

The company has signed a letter of intent on the future sale of the aircraft with a foreign client, Kamas said.

Interest in the aircraft was also voiced by the STV Group arms maker.

Jan Decky, from the company management, said the firm would like to buy all the eight fighters.

CZ Hermex is the fourth bidder, LN writes.

The state may gain some 250 million crowns for the sale of the fighters, it adds.

However, the bidders have not revealed the prices they offer, LN writes.