Hungary Defense Ministry signs $20.5 mln Gripen contracts

Published: Jan 04, 2006
Source: www.bbj.hu



The Defense Ministry signed contracts in December to purchase targeting pods and radio systems for the country's Gripen fighter aircraft worth a combined $20.5 million, business daily Világgazdaság reported on Wednesday. The ministry signed a $11 million contract with a consortium of Israel's Rafael and Germany's Zeiss to supply targeting pods, and a $9.5 million contract with Germany's Rohde and Schwarz to supply radios.

The Rafael-Zeiss offset agreement will be worth 100% of the value of the targeting pods. One-fifth of the offset will be direct and include deliveries of supplies. Investments will account for 30% of the remainder of the offset, and could include new developments at Zeiss's lens plant in Mátészalka, northeast Hungary. The consortium will also carry out a training program as part of the offset agreement.

The Rohde and Schwarz offset agreement is for 112% of the value of the contract. Investments will make up 32% of the offset, and will probably involve spending at Rohde and Schwarz's Hungarian unit, which the company set up last year. The unit will serve as a regional service centre for Rohde and Schwarz's military and civilian equipment.

Hungary signed a deal in December 2001 to lease 14 fighter aircraft from Saab-Gripen. The deal, which was amended in 2003, contains a 130% offset agreement, worth about Ft 191 billion or €780 million, for 14 years.continue..