Swedish government offers to lend Poland 16 of its used Grippen fighter jets

The Swedish government is eager to lend Poland 16 of its Grippen fighter jets. Yesterday, the Swedish company producing the planes revealed the details of the offer made to Polish Defense Minister Bronislaw Komorowski on Dec. 29. Sweden would lend the planes for five years and promise that Poland would not be obliged to buy any aircraft afterwards. The Polish government is now gathering offers from different producers and will invite a tender for multipurpose aircraft in February. In order to maintain NATO standards, Poland will have to purchase 60 modern planes, and since it can't afford new ones it is looking for used equipment. The ministry has already held talks with Americans and sent inquiries to Germany, France, Sweden and Great Britain. The tender will be concluded before June 30. (Rzeczpospolita, pp.A1, A3) J.K.