Czech, Slovaks to connect their fighter squadrons

The Czech Republic and Slovakia will connect their fighter squadrons in a few months before Slovakia also acquires the Jas-39 Gripen fighters which the Czech military has decided to lease for another 12 years.
Both countries’ working groups are now finishing up details.
The Slovak air force has now eight Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters.
The Czech government recently approved the extension of the contract on the lease of 14 Swedish Jas-39 Gripen supersonic fighters until 2027.
Both countries airspaces will be partially interconnected and Czech Gripens or Slovak MiGs will be able to enter the other country’s airspace within cross-border operations.
Such situations may occur if Gripens accompany a plane that does not communicate with a ground controller. They will be allowed to pursue it as far as the Slovak-Ukrainian or Slovak-Hungarian borders.
Both Czech and Slovak fighter squadrons should be more closely interconnected after 2016 when the service contract on MiG-29s expires. Slovakia will probably buy or lease up to eight fighters from the West, while Gripens are favorites.
If the CzechRepublic and Slovakia had the same type of supersonic fighters, a joint squadron would be formed with one main and one minor air base.
The Czech and Slovak governments have planned meetings to debate a joint protection of the countries’ airspaces where a few agreements are to be signed.
A joint purchase of airport radars has long been considered.
praguepost