Daily: Czech firm likely to get prestigious order

The Czech daily E15 has reported that a Czech company, LOM, owned by the Defence Ministry, will likely upgrade and overhaul between 50 and 60 transport helicopters for NATO and the European Union. The daily cited company head Jindřich Ploch as saying the order would be the biggest since the Czechs joined NATO and the EU. The helicopters are needed for both military and humanitarian missions in areas in southern Europe, Africa, as well as for missions in Afghanistan. Ten other companies could also take part in the project, the daily wrote.