Czech Republic signs $6.5 billion deal with US to acquire 24 F-35 jets

Europe, News, US February 1, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The Czech Republic government signed the country’s biggest military procurement deal on January 29, 2024, to acquire 24 F-35 fighter jets from the United States.

The deal was inked by Defense Minister Jana Cernochova and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet. Prague is set to take delivery of the jets in 2031-2035, the republic’s state-run CTK news agency reported.

“By signing this intergovernmental agreement, our country and also our army enter a new era,” Cernochova said following his meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. Prague has been considering replacing its aging fleet of 14 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden with U.S.-made fighter jets.

According to Cernochova, the Czech government will initially pay around $5 billion to cover expenses such as aircraft procurement, pilot training, ammunition, and other related costs to the U.S. Other funds will be directed towards enhancing the Caslav Air Force base in the central Czech Republic, where the fighter jets will be stationed. The cost would cover expenses such as infrastructural upgradation, fuel storage, and staff training at the base.

The F-35 was officially selected as the future fighter for the Czech Republic, making it the 18th nation to join the global program. The Czech Republic Air Force will procure 24 F-35 aircraft. https://t.co/e2MTZN28LR pic.twitter.com/2Res78D9mI
— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) January 29, 2024

“The F-35 is the only system that can help us succeed in the future’s battlegrounds, and that in the case of need, we’ll manage to effectively defend ourselves against aggression, together with our allies,” Czech Republic’s Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Karel Rehka said.

The Czech government had been negotiating a deal with the U.S. for the procurement of the F-35 for more than a year. 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.

Under the deal, Prague would receive 24 conventional take-off and landing configuration F-35 fighter jets, 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.

Surge in demand

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.

*^{U.S. fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. (Image Credit: 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner/Twitter/@thef35)}*

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.