Cambodia to Purchase Four L-39 Jets from Czech

17 Oktober 2019

L-39NG trainer aircraft (photo : Aero Vodochody)

Czech arms to be purchased

Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that the government will purchase more Czech-made surveillance aircraft and weapons in a move to strengthen the Kingdom’s defence and national security.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Monday, Mr Hun Sen said the purchase includes Czech-made Aero L-39 Albatros surveillance aircraft.

“I wish to say that in the past Cambodia already purchased six L-39 surveillance aircrafts. Now, I request for a discussion to purchase three or four more and import other light weapons to strengthen the Kingdom’s defence and national security,” Mr Hun Sen said.

Mr Babiš said that both countries discussed the matter.

“Cambodia has already had Aero L-39 Albatros. We will cooperate in the aviation sector,” Mr Babiš said. “Our arms producers will supply weapons to police and soldiers.”

In the press conference, Mr Hun Sen also expressed his gratitude to the Czech government for cancelling the debt Cambodia previously owed to the Czech Republic and also for turning the debt into development aid.

He also thanked the Czech government for providing scholarships to Cambodian students to pursue their study in the Czech Republic.

Mr Hun Sen said that between 1981 and 2019, the Czech government offered scholarships to 362 Cambodian students.

“Some of them, who used to study in the Czech Republic, are now working at various government’s ministries and institutions,” he said.

“I also wish to thank the Czech government for providing $1.5 million assistance each year to the Kingdom for six years, which began in 2018 until 2023 to support development projects in Cambodia,” Mr Hun Sen added.

(KhmerTimes)