PRAGUE, Czech Republic, May 21 (UPI) -- The Czech Republic is renegotiating a $770 million deal to lease 14 Gripen fighter jets made by Britain's BAE Systems and Sweden's Saab.
The Czech daily Pravo reported Friday the Czech government wanted to get a better price for the 10-year lease arrangement and to ensure the fighters are equipped to carry U.S. AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles.
The Czech Republic chose the Gripen fighters over U.S.-made F-16 fighters in a decision on the future of the Czech air force made last December.
The JAS 39 Gripen combat jets will replace the Czech Republic's aging fleet of Soviet-era Mig 21s.
The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 along with Poland and Hungary in an historic expansion that first brought former members of the Warsaw Pact into the American-led security organization.
U.S. officials have long encouraged new NATO members to modernize their existing military capacity.
