Czech U.S. radar building to cost $260M

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, April 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. defense agency said the construction of a U.S. radar base on Czech territory south of Prague would cost about $260 million.

The radar base in the Brdy military zone will be part of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in Europe. Its total cost including communication and security facilities will reach about $550 million, Prague Radio reported Friday.

The U.S. missile defense agency said a radar system will be moved from the Marshall Islands to the Czech Brdy location.

U.S. and Czech officials are to have a first round of negotiations in May on building the U.S. radar base.

The Czech parliament will vote on a final approval of the deployment of the U.S. radar base following the end of talks, which are expected to wrap by the year's end.

An interceptor missile base is to be deployed in neighboring Poland.