Iraq to buy 12 Czech-made combat aircraft

Iraq will buy 12 Czech-built L-159 aircraft, the news website lidovky.cz reported on Monday. The contract, signed by Representatives of Iraq’s Ministry of Defence on Sunday, is worth around 200 million US dollars, the website said quoting sources familiar with the deal. The Czech military has been trying to sell off the redundant aircraft after it only found use for 28 out of 72 planes it ordered in 1997. Last year, a US training company signed a deal to buy 28 L-159 planes for around 500 million crowns.