TSAMTO, September 29. The Czech government, at a meeting held on September 27, approved the purchase of 24 5th-generation F-35 Lightning-2 fighters, including a comprehensive financing plan.
As stated, these aircraft will allow the Czech Armed Forces to effectively protect the airspace of their country and allies. At the same time, thanks to the purchase, the capabilities of the Czech Air Force will expand, which will be able to better perform tasks together with NATO allies.
According to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the purchase of F-35 is an effective solution, since the benefits of their use during the service life are significantly higher compared to the funds spent than when buying another type of aircraft.
According to the Czech Defense Minister Yana Chernokhova, the cost of the US offer for the supply of 24 aircraft, related equipment, training services, ammunition and support until 2034 is about $4.8 billion (106 billion crowns). This amount will be paid in tranches annually during 2024-2034. In addition, about 44 billion kronor ($2 billion) will be spent in the Czech Republic, mainly on the reconstruction and construction of the base in Chaslav, fuel, training, as well as VAT payment. It is assumed that in general, the total amount of payments until 2034 will be about 150 billion. kronor ($6.82 billion at the current exchange rate). As stated, although the total amount is high, on average it will amount to less than 7.5% of the planned defense spending.
The purchase will be accompanied by 14 industrial cooperation projects with American manufacturers, including the possibility of direct participation of Czech companies in the global supply chain for F-35 aircraft.
As reported by TSAMTO, in July 2022, the Czech government authorized Defense Minister Yana Chernokhova to negotiate with the US government on the possibility of acquiring 24 F-35A Lightning-2 multipurpose fighters.
The first meetings of the Czech and American expert groups took place in September 2022. The Czech Ministry of Defense handed over a letter of request to the American side about the possibility of supplying F-35 Lightning-2 fighters on October 3, 2022.
In June 2023, the US State Department approved the potential supply of 24 F-35A fighters in the version with conventional take-off and landing, as well as related equipment, ammunition and services to the Czech Republic under the Foreign Military Sales program. The maximum cost of the order was estimated at up to $5.62 billion.
Currently, the Czech Air Force is armed with 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighters, whose lease contract expires in 2027. The increase in the number of fighters in the Air Force is justified by the fact that the existing fleet no longer meets the current tasks, and taking into account the deterioration of the security situation, the volume of tasks performed will only grow.
The Czech authorities expect that the unification of the fighter fleet with the United States, Poland and other NATO allies will strengthen cooperation, allow joint training, support, repair and modernization, reducing costs.
