Czech Republic to purchase four Rafael 'Spyder' air defense batteries
The Israeli company's systems that will be delivered under the deal valued at $627 million will replace outdated air defense systems that have been in the service of the Czech Army since the 1970s
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 30/09/2021
Photo: Rafael
The Czech government announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement to purchase four "Spyder" short-range air defense batteries made by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Czech Ministry of Defense said that the value of the deal is $627 million, and that delivery of the systems is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
Israel Defense reported one year ago (27/09/20) that the Czech Defense Ministry informed the Israeli Defense Ministry of its decision to purchase, at the end of an international competition, Spyder surface-to-air missile systems made by Israel's Rafael. It appears that the deal announced this week is the de facto implementation of this decision.
The Spyder systems will replace the outdated 2k12 Kub Soviet air defense systems that have been in the service of the Czech Army since the 1970s. Under the contract, the Czech defense industry will take part in the program, supplying products and services worth more than 30 percent of its value.
The Czech Army is expected to operate the supplied systems for at least 20 years. Combined with the costs of maintenance and repairs, the acquisition will cost the country’s budget about $1 billion, according to the statement.
The Israeli company's systems that will be delivered under the deal valued at $627 million will replace outdated air defense systems that have been in the service of the Czech Army since the 1970s
Photo: Rafael
The Czech government announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement to purchase four "Spyder" short-range air defense batteries made by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The Czech Ministry of Defense said that the value of the deal is $627 million, and that delivery of the systems is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
Israel Defense reported one year ago (27/09/20) that the Czech Defense Ministry informed the Israeli Defense Ministry of its decision to purchase, at the end of an international competition, Spyder surface-to-air missile systems made by Israel's Rafael. It appears that the deal announced this week is the de facto implementation of this decision.
The Spyder systems will replace the outdated 2k12 Kub Soviet air defense systems that have been in the service of the Czech Army since the 1970s. Under the contract, the Czech defense industry will take part in the program, supplying products and services worth more than 30 percent of its value.
The Czech Army is expected to operate the supplied systems for at least 20 years. Combined with the costs of maintenance and repairs, the acquisition will cost the country’s budget about $1 billion, according to the statement.
