Israel offers pilotless aircraft to Czech military

Prague

Israel is offering pilotless reconnaissance planes and anti-terrorism computer technologies to the Czech military, Czech Defence Minister Martin Bartak told CTK after today's talks with his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak.
Till the end of November, the Czech military is to purchase two sets of U.S. RQ-11 Raven remote-controlled miniature unmanned aerial vehicles for 20 million crowns.
According to the iDnes.cz server, the sets contain a total of six planes, including all technical logistics.
Bartak said today that the Israeli military was offering small pilotless aircraft.
Bartak held talks on the purchase with his Israeli counterpart a month ago.
He told journalists that Israel was prepared to cooperate in many fields. Without giving any details, he said that Israel could help Czech soldiers in foreign missions, particularly in Afghanistan.
The Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team(PRT) and a Czech anti-terrorist unit operate in Afghanistan.
At the beginning of September, the two ministers signed in Israel a memorandum on understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries' defence forces.
The agreement sets the framework for exchange of information in security area, cooperation on research armament projects and training of the two countries' army's units on the territory of the other state.
Bartak today said that Israel was also offering Czechs cooperation in testing an armoured vehicle on the chassis made by the Czech Tatra vehicle producer.
Bartak, Barak and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer today also discussed the situation in Iran.
According to Bartak, Israel will have a "component of missile defence system" on its territory.
Barak said today that Iran was a challenge for the whole world and not only for Israel.
According to the Israeli press, Iran knows how to make an atomic bomb and is working on the missile system capable of carrying nuclear heads.
According to Barak,it is necessary that international community prevent the possible production of nuclear weapons by Iran because Iran could be a real threat.
If international pressure failed Israel would consider further steps, Barak said.

Datum: 14. 10. 2009