Steyr receives contract for 107 Pandur II carriers by Czech military

Czech deputy defence minister Martin Bartak today signed a contract on the supply of 107 Pandur II armoured personnel carriers (APC) from the Austrian firm Steyr. The price of the order, including logistics and training, is 14.4 billion crowns. The Czech military will receive the first Pandurs this year, and the last in 2013. General Dynamics is represented in the Czech Republic by the Defendia CZ company whose executive Juraj Urban signed the contract on behalf of the concern. General Dynamics European Land Systems President John Ulrich was also present. The Czech government approved the deal in early March. The total value of the offset programme would be over 18 billion crowns. Some 40 percent of them would be direct offsets that are orders connected with the military equipment production. Bartak said there is space for Czech companies to negotiate the contracts that suit them best within the given limits. The first 17 Pandurs are ready and they should be supplied in mid-2009. The Czech military wanted a total of 72 APCs in the standard version, 11 in commander's version, 16 Pandurs in two forms of the reconnaissance version and four in modifications for health care and engineering purposes. Former Social Democrat (CSSD)-led government agreed with the purchase of 240 APCs in 2003. Steyr, which is part of General Dynamics, won the tender in 2006 and the agreed price exceeded 23.5 billion crowns. In 2007 the current government of Mirek Topolanek decided to withdraw from the contract after Steyr failed to keep the contract conditions.