TSAMTO, October 7. The Czech Defense Ministry announced the signing on October 5 of the Czech-Israeli intergovernmental agreement on the acquisition of a new SPYDER ground-based air defense system manufactured by the Israeli state-owned company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Defense Minister for Armaments and Procurement Lubor Koudelka and Secretary General of the Israeli Defense Ministry Amir Eshel.
According to the statement of the Minister of Defense Lubomir Metnar, the SPYDER complex was recognized by the specialists of the Czech Armed Forces as the best according to the results of the evaluation of nine ground-based air defense systems. As part of this agreement, Israel will supply a fully functional air defense system to a NATO country for the first time.
The total cost of purchasing an air defense system that meets the requirements of the Czech Armed Forces will be 13.69 billion. CZK (including VAT, about 537 million euros). Deliveries of four SPYDER SAM batteries will last until 2026. In service with the Czech Armed Forces, they will replace the outdated 2K12 "CUBE" complexes of Soviet design.
Each battery will include a radar, four launchers, a transport-charging vehicle and a fire control system. All elements of the system will be placed on the chassis of Tatra 815 vehicles with the 8x8 wheel formula, which are in service with the Czech Armed Forces. The delivery package will also include equipment for the operation and maintenance of the system, including spare parts. During the first two years, the supplier will provide technical support for the systems.
The SAM will be delivered to the 251st anti-aircraft missile Division of the 25th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment (Strakonice).
The cost of the sale is final, its amount was agreed upon during the evaluation in the Ministry of Defense and the Government of Israel. Preliminary negotiations made it possible to reduce the initial price by 2 billion. crowns. As noted, the final amount takes into account the constant increase in prices for advanced defense technologies on the world market, the increase in inflation and prices for all resources, the increase in the cost of highly skilled labor and the transfer of a number of technologies to the Czech Republic.
Czech industry will be directly involved in the supply of equipment and its maintenance. The total share of the Czech industry in the implementation of the contract will be about 40% of the project cost. The main partners of the Israeli state-owned company Rafael will be the Czech company RETIA and the Military Technical Institute (VTU, Vojensky technicky ustav).
As stated, the Czech Armed Forces intend to operate the SPYDER air defense system for more than 20 years. Estimated expected costs for the entire period of operation will amount to about 23 billion. kroons, of which the amount paid to the Israeli side for technical support will amount to a maximum of 7.5 billion. CZK (including VAT). The costs of providing a 20-year life cycle include not only maintenance costs, but also all other auxiliary and operational expenses of the Ministry of Defense, including salaries and training of military personnel, operation of vehicles, fuel, infrastructure.