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Czech Air Force - F-35 Lightning II

The Czech Republic was identified by Lockheed Martin officials as one of the possible buyers in presentations to industry in 2007. Also in a document produced for the Dutch Parliament (Basis Document, 2001) a possible requirement of 24-36 Czech planes to replace the old Su-22 and MiG-21 had been mentioned. However, for a long time this seemed to be commercial wishful thinking. The Czech Republic could not be considered as a JSF opportunity after the successful introduction of the Saab Gripen.

The F-35 is the European aircraft of choice for replacing legacy fighter fleets, offering unmatched interoperability with NATO and other nations to provide a key discriminator for the U.S. and its allies for decades to come. By the 2030s, more than 600 F-35s will work together from more than 10 European countries, including two full U.S. F-35 squadrons stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath. It is also the only fighter aircraft in production today that will create jobs for the next 40-50 years and enable strategic industrial partnerships with Czech industry.

F-35s are now operating from 32 bases worldwide. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 990 F-35s, trained more than 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers, and the F-35 fleet has surpassed 773,000 cumulative flight hours. Lockheed Martin continues to work side by side with F-35 operators to ensure allies remain ahead of the evolving threat.

The Czech Republic government signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) 29 January 2024 making official its intent to procure 24 Lockheed Martin 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Through the U.S. government Foreign Military Sale, the Czech Air Force will receive its first aircraft in 2031, which will be in the latest advanced Block 4 configuration.

“We are pleased the government of Czech Republic is now officially a part of the F-35 Lightning II program of record,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. “This partnership with the Czech Ministry of Defense will deliver and sustain the F-35 aircraft for decades, while providing the Czech Air Force with unmatched interoperability and ensuring it has the capability to counter current and future threats.”

In addition to the aircraft, the procurement also includes personnel training, service and logistical support, and developing other support services ensuring successful deliveries of all 24 F-35s. “With the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance between the Czech Republic and U.S. governments, the Czech Republic becomes the 18th nation to join the global F-35 program. We are honored to partner with the Czech Republic Air Force as its F-35s join other European nations in strengthening and growing interoperability, significantly increasing NATO’s deterrent capability.” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “The F-35 is the best solution for the Czech Republic’s future fighter fleet with 5th Generation capabilities enhancing the nation’s effectiveness in the 21st Century Security battlespace.”

The Czech government announced in July 2022 that it will be entering negotiations with the United States about the possible purchase of F35 fighter jets. The Ministry of Defence says that it is hoping to secure two squadrons – around 24 aircraft – worth dozens of billions of crowns, which would quite possibly make this the most expensive purchase in Czech Army history. The negotiations are set to be concluded by October 2023.

Defence expert Matúš Halás, from the Institute of International Affairs in Prague, said “It’s the best decision that could have been made, honestly. The F-35s are the best fighter jets on the market. You cannot get anything better. Of course it’s extremely expensive, but given the situation in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this is really not a time to try to save money on defence. In fact it is the other way round. If you want to be competitive in the air you really need the best aircraft possible and the F-35 is the right choice.

“It is more expensive than other possible competitors, such as the latest generation of the Swedish Gripen, but these aircraft aren’t really comparable, because the F-35s have unique characteristics and are simply better planes. You cannot compare Italian sports cars with Romanian ones. You cannot compare Ferraris with Dacias, so this really is the best possible decision by the Czech government.”

The Czech Air Force is currently operating 14 JAS 39 Gripen fighters. Some opposition MPs, such as the Freedom and Direct Democracy’s Radovan Vích, say that this is a political decision which will end up costing the state too much. He mentioned both the operating costs and the costs of reconstructing airfields so that they suit the fifth generation F35.

Halás said " there would have been a need to upgrade the infrastructure of military airports anyway. We will be upgrading them and probably also get some money from the US government as well, so this is not something that the Czech government can easily opt in or out of. There is a need to upgrade Czech airfields. It is true that the operational costs of the F-35s are much higher, several times higher in fact than those of the Swedish fighter jets. But again, these are two completely different kinds of aircraft with completely different kinds of capabilities. You really can’t compare them. The F-35 is a different generation of aircraft, so it’s natural that the operational costs are different....

“I think it is important to realise that the lease of the Swedish fighter jets is most probably going to be extended. The current contract runs until 2027, with the option to extend the lease by two more years until 2029. I think it is realistic to assume that if everything goes according to plan, the first F-35s will arrive in the Czech Republic by 2028, maybe 2027.

“Given the time schedule, the intention to negotiate with the US until October of next year and the long delivery times of the F-35s to other countries, such as the example of Finland which recently signed the contract and yet will only receive the aircraft in 2026, I think it is realistic to assume that if everything goes according to plan, the first F-35s will arrive in the Czech Republic by 2028, maybe 2027. But those will be the very first aircraft to arrive. Therefore, I think that the Gripen lease will have to be extended to 2029.”

On 29 June 2023 the US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Czech Republic of F-35 Aircraft, Munitions, and related equipment for an estimated value of up to $5.62 billion. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The Government of the Czech Republic has requested to buy twenty-four (24) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) Aircraft; twenty-five (25) Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 Engines (24 installed, 1 spare); seventy (70) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); three (3) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM Guidance Sections; eighty-six (86) GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs - Increment II (SDB-II) StormBreaker All-Up-Rounds (AUR); two (2) GBU-53 SDB-II Guided Test Vehicles (GTV); three (3) GBU-53 SDB-II Captive Carry Reliability Trainers (CCRT); twelve (12) Mk-84 General Purpose 2,000-lb Bombs or BLU-109 2,000-lb Penetrator Bombs for the GBU-31; twelve (12) KMU-556/KMU-557 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Tail Kits for the GBU-31; fifty (50) AIM-9X Block II/II+ Tactical Sidewinder Missiles; ten (10) AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder Guidance Units; eighteen (18) AIM-9X Block II Tactical Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); and four (4) AIM-9X Block II CATM Guidance Units.

Also included are AIM-120 AMRAAM CATMs, control section spares, and containers; AIM-9 multi-purpose/dummy air training missiles and containers; DSU-41B Active Optical Target Detectors; Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) trainer tail kits; FMU-139 Joint Programmable Fuzes; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKL); ALE-70 Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) Transmitters; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; electronic warfare (EW) data and Reprogramming Lab support; impulse cartridges, chaff, and flares; Common Munitions Built-In-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD); Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); classified software and software development, delivery, and integration support; transportation, ferry, and refueling support; ammunition and weapons components; aircraft and munitions support and support equipment; integration and test support and equipment; aircraft engine Component Improvement Program (CIP) support; secure communications, precision navigation, and cryptographic equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; in-country facilities and construction support; major and minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; classified and unclassified personnel training and training gear and equipment; classified and unclassified publications and technical documents; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve the Czech Republic's defense capabilities as well as support NATO operations by guarding against modern threats and maintaining a constant presence in the region. The Czech Republic will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX; Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, AZ; and The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO. The purchaser typically requests industrial participation. Any industrial participation agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.