PRAGUE, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Czech government should pick Swedish JAS
39 Gripen fighter planes to replace the NATO member's retiring fleet
of Soviet MiG-21s, a commission evaluating bids for the combat jets
has recommended.

A Defence Ministry spokesman told Reuters on Monday that the
commission had picked the Swedish offer to loan the Czech air force 14
fighter jets.

The Gripen offer was one of five bids which also included F-16s from
the U.S., Belgium or the Netherlands and F-18s from Canada.

The government wants to make a final decision on the deal by the end
of December to have the planes in 2005.

Gripens are made by a consortium of Sweden's Saab SAABt.ST and
Britain's BAE Systems BA.L.

Copyright 2003, Reuters News Service