US interested in employing Czech firms to work on anti-missile defence

The United States is interested in employing Czech companies to work on its missile defence system, reported Hospodarske noviny on Wednesday. The Pentagon has voiced an interest in working with Czech firms in the fields of research and development, and industrial production in particular, the paper reports. Around 30 Czech firms and 20 research institutes are set to discuss plans with a US delegation in Prague next month. It is currently unclear how much these contracts could be worth.

A delegation from the Pentagon is expected to finalise these contracts with the Czech Defence Ministry in February. The construction of a US anti-missile radar base will be negotiated at the same time. The White House is hoping to build the base in Brdy, central Bohemia.