On June 29, 2023, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the US Department of Defense sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale of 24 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters to the Czech Republic through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This sale is approved by the U.S. Department of State. The total cost of the proposed delivery is estimated at $5.62 billion, including training and technical support packages, as well as weapons.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters of the United States Air Force (c) Lockheed Martin
According to the notification, the Czech Republic's supply, in addition to 24 F-35A aircraft, should also include 70 Raytheon AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles of medium and long range; 50 Raytheon AIM-9X Block II/II+ Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles; 12 sets of guided bombs Boeing GBU-31 JDAM caliber 2000 pounds; 86 sets of small-sized guided bombs Raytheon GBU-53 SDB-II StormBreaker caliber 250 pounds; as well as a number of training and practical ammunition of these types.
On the part of bmpd, we recall that in July 2022, the Czech government approved negotiations with the US government on the purchase on an intergovernmental basis through the American FMS program for the Czech Air Force of 24 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters. An official request (LOR) on this issue in accordance with the FMS mechanism was sent by the Czech side in October 2022. According to plans, these aircraft should enter service with the Czech Air Force after the expiration of the Czech lease of 14 Swedish Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters in 2027, although it is currently considered likely that the operation of Gripen in the Czech Air Force will be extended until the end of 2029. Thus, it is most likely that the Czech Republic will receive the F-35A in 2027/2028 - 2030.
It is planned that as part of the Czech Air Force, two squadrons of 12 fighters each will be equipped with F-35A aircraft, which will be part of the 21st tactical Airbase at the Chaslav airfield (now the 211 squadron of this airbase is equipped with JAS-39C/D fighters, and the 212th and 213rd squadrons - light combat aircraft L-159A/ T).
