Czech military signs deal for new Tatra trucks

The Czech military has signed a deal for the purchase of more than 550 new Tatra trucks.The first of the medium-sized vehicles, worth a total of 2.6 billion crowns - the equivalent of around 76 million dollars - will be delivered next year. In 2007, the army will receive 27 of the trucks, the last will arrive by 2009. Previously, it appeared the deal might not be signed because of cuts in finances - but the government in September boosted the military's budget. The new Tatras will replace aging Praga V3Ss as well as former Soviet-built vehicles.