Czech Republic signs contract on Israeli air defence system

The Czech Defence Ministry concluded on Tuesday the contract on the purchase of four batteries of the SPYDER air defence system from Israel that the Rafael Israeli firm would supply for 13.7 billion crowns on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement. The contract was signed by Deputy Defence Minister Lubor Koudelka, in charge of acquisitions, and Israeli Defence Ministry Director General Amir Eshel. The SHORAD (Short Range Air Defence) system is designed to protect cities, nuclear power plants, airports, industry centres and other important premises. It is able to detect and eliminate aircraft, drones, helicopters and flat-track guided missiles. SHORAD is to replace the Soviet KUB system from the 1970s in the Czech military equipment.