Minister: Talks on purchase of US jets in final stages

Negotiations for the purchase of two dozen US F-35 jets are in their final stages, the Czech minister of defence, Jana Černochová, said on Thursday. She made the comment in an address to legislators, army brass and other guests at a helicopter base in Náměšť nad Oslavou in Moravia. Minister Černochová said the results of the talks to date would be presented to the government and party leaders within the next few weeks.

The US State Department approved the possible sale of fifth-generation aircraft to the Czech Army in June.