Czech military to buy offensive handguns for 2 billion - press

It writes that the most used of this type of arms are U.S.-made M16 offensive handguns.

The new arms will replace machine guns 58 based on the Soviet-made Kalashnikovs AK 47, Pravo writes.

It says the Czechoslovak and later Czech military used the machine guns 58 for 50 years.

The Czech military wants to spend 194 million crowns on the handguns next year. The biggest sums - twice more than a half billion crowns - will be spent in 2013 and 2014, Pravo writes.

It says the Defence Ministry would not comment on the proposal. Its spokesman Andrej Cirtek told the paper that deputies from the Chamber of Deputies defence committee will first be acquainted with the proposal.

Committee chairman Antonin Seda (Social Democrats, CSSD), was surprised at the ministry plans.

"It was originally said that only special units will get offensive handguns. The whole military could be rearmed for two billion crowns," Seda told Pravo.

It writes that the military also plans to spend 3.49 billion crowns on the purchase of light armoured vehicles. Next year 418 million crowns are to be spent on the purchase and a greater part in 2013 and 2014.

Pravo writes that the military has not yet announced a tender for the purchase of the handguns and armoured vehicles. It is therefore possible that it will address one producer or importer.

Server Tyden.cz reported last week that the military also plans to buy up to 100 Iveco light armoured vehicles for two billion crowns. No tender has been put up for this purchase.

The military is to take over the first Italian-made vehicles before the year's end, the server wrote.

Pravo writes that the military has already been replacing equipment with modern one. Last week, it officially took over the first 17 armoured personal vehicles (APCs) Pandur II from Steyr firm.

It wants to buy a total of 72 APCs for 14.4 billion crowns, including logistics and training. The last vehicle is to be supplied in 2013.

($1=17.146 crowns)

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz