Will U.S. offer of interest-free loan tip the scales in fighter jet tender?
President Aleksander Kwasniewski on Friday applauded a plan put forward by
U.S. President George W. Bush to grant Poland $3.8 billion in interest-free
loans for the purchase of Lockheed Martin fighter jets. Poland is seeking to
replace its ancient Soviet-made MiGs with 48 modern multitask fighters.
Lockheed Martin's F-16's, Gripens from a consortium of BAE Systems and Saab,
as well as Mirage from France's Dassault, are battling to win the contract.
A week ago Bush asked the House of Representatives to grant Poland the loan
to help the purchase. The Czech Republic delayed its tender after being hit
by a devastating flood, while Hungary decided to lease jets to save funds.
"If this idea is backed by Congress it would undoubtedly make the American
offer very attractive. This is an important decision and I am happy that Mr.
Bush made it," Kwasniewski told reporters. He will not decide the outcome of
the tender, which includes lucrative offset deals from all contractors, but
he remains an influential voice in the ruling Democratic Left Alliance.
Final offers for the F-16C, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 and JAS-39 Gripen are due by
November 12. The government should choose the winner by December 28.
(Reuters)
