Czech government approves plans to buy 24 F-35 jets for $6.5 billion

Europe, News, US September 29, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The government of the Czech Republic approved plans to purchase 24 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. in a deal that is valued at $6.5 billion. Once completed, it would become the largest-ever defense spending on a single defense acquisition by Prague.

Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that his government is making rapid progress in finalizing the deal to purchase the advanced supersonic fighter jets with the first deliveries expected by 2031. Fiala added that the country’s air force would have all 24 stealth fighter jets at its disposal by 2035.

“The first F-35s will be ready in 2029 and our pilots will start training with them in the United States then,” Fiala told reporters. He said that deliveries of the F-35 jets would play a significant role in solving “the future of our tactical air forces for dozens of years to come” adding that “For our defense, it is important to boost our ties with NATO allies.”

Czech Republic is seeking to buy U.S.-made jets to replace its 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets that it leased from Sweden. Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said the state will pay 150 billion crowns ($6.47 billion) by 2034 in a bill that includes the cost of the aircraft, training of pilots, ammunition, upgrades to the Caslav Air Force base in the central Czech Republic, and fuel.

In July 2023, the U.S. State Department approved Prague’s request to acquire F-35 fighter jets along with ammunition and other associated equipment. Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported that the proposed deal was approved by the State Department on June 29, 2023.

Pentagon report said that Prague was seeking to acquire F-35 fighter jets, in conventional take-off and landing configuration, along with 25 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, 70 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM), and 86 StormBreaker all-up rounds. The request also comprised 12 Mk-84 general-purpose bombs, 12 KMU-556/KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits, and 50 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles.

Swiss Air Force F-35 — *^{F-35 during the test campaign conducted by the Swiss Air Force. (Image Credit: Aviacionline/via Twitter)}*

The European states have shown immense interest in acquiring U.S.-made weapons and fighter jets amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing security crises. The demand is largely centered around F-35 fighter jets along with munitions, air defense systems, communications equipment, shoulder-fired missiles, and drones which have proven critical to Ukraine’s war efforts.

Produced by Lockheed Martin and equipped with anti-detection stealth technology, F-35s are used across NATO, but also by Australia, Japan, Israel, and South Korea. Other countries including neutral Switzerland have also signed deals to buy the planes, which were launched in 2006.

The use of U.S.-made weapons and defense systems is expected to increase interoperability among the NATO forces. After receiving the deliveries of the jets in 2031, the Czech Republic would become the ninth European country to be operating U.S.-made F-35 jets.