Czech army to buy transport planes

The Czech Army is considering spending nine billion crowns, or more than 540 million U.S. dollars, on new transport planes, Deputy Defence Minister Martin Barták said on Thursday. The Defence Ministry is likely to save the funds needed for the purchase by buying only a hundred armoured personnel carriers from an Austrian arms producer, instead of the original 199 vehicles. The new planes could be used to transport personnel and equipment to Czech foreign missions. Most transport planes currently used by the Czech Army are old, Soviet-made aircraft.