Czechs to buy 48 air-to-air missiles from Israel

By AFP
October 26, 2023
Czech Republic´s Defense Minister Jana Cernochova takes part in a meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (not pictured) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2023.
Czech Republic´s Defense Minister Jana Cernochova takes part in a meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (not pictured) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2023.

PRAGUE: The Czech government said on Wednesday it would buy 48 I-Derby Long Range air-to-air missiles from Israel in its bid to boost defence capacities as the war in Ukraine rages on. 

The Nato member will spend 2.8 billion koruna ($120 million) on the missiles made by Israeli arms maker Rafael, which are due to be supplied by October 2027. The missiles can destroy drones, helicopters, airplanes and missiles in a range of up to 80-kms and at a height of 20-kms.

“The war in Ukraine has shown the importance of defence against attacks from the air, be it drones or standard air force,” Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said in a statement. The I-Derby missiles will complement four Spyder short-range air defence system batteries made by Rafael, which Prague will receive under a 2021 contract worth $630 million, the defence ministry said.