In July 2022, under a lease agreement, the Czech Republic confirmed its intention to procure 24 F-35A fighter-bombers from American manufacturer Lockheed-Martin to replace the 14 JAS-39 Gripen C/D deployed by its air force, due to expire in 2027 or even 2029.
“It will therefore most likely be the most expensive military purchase in the country’s modern history,” Radio Prague commented at the time, estimating the cost of this F-35A purchase at “several tens of billions of crowns.” In reality, it will be in the order of a hundred billion…
In fact, on June 29, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA], responsible for US military equipment exports, issued a notice recommending that Congress accept the sale of 24 F-35As to the Czech Republic for an estimated US$5.62 billion. Or 123 billion Czech crowns according to the current exchange rate.
In addition to fighter-bombers, this amount also includes technical and logistical support [avec un moteur F135-PW-100 de rechange]Engineering services and most notably the supply of several types of ammunition, including 70 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and various bomb models [86 GBU-53/B, 12 BLU-109, 12 GBU-31] and 50 AIM-9X Block II/II+ Sidewinder missiles.
This sale “will enhance the Czech Republic’s defense capabilities and support NATO operations against modern threats,” the DSCA reasoned.
However, the notice does not specify whether the F-35As supplied to the Czech Air Force will be converted to the Block 4 standard, the development of which has caused the Pentagon some concern … to the point that it has suspended receiving new aircraft . in the “Technology Refresh 3” configuration. [TR-3] until the problems are solved. In addition, the question of the engine also arises, as it turned out that the current F-135 is “operated beyond its specifications”.
Be that as it may, negotiations between Prague and Washington over this F-35A order began long before the DSCA commented.
“During the talks, we also use the knowledge and experience gained in other countries. For example, we managed to set a date for the month of May when Czech pilots will have the opportunity to try a higher-tier simulator, which in other countries was only possible after receiving a formal offer from the United States for the sale of aircraft.” , Blanka Cupáková, director of economic affairs at the Czech Defense Ministry, told Radio Prague International last April.
“We also discussed the possibility of reducing certain costs according to the established distribution rules in order to achieve maximum savings for the Czech Republic. We don’t want to miss any chance in this respect”, Ms. Cupáková also clarified.
In addition, with the release of its statement by the DSCA, Prague adopted a new security strategy, which for the first time identifies Russia and China as potential threats, firstly because of its deliberate crackdown on the Czech Republic’s “political, economic and social stability”. the other for his questioning of the international order, which “has negative consequences for Euro-Atlantic security”.