As NATO governments continue to beef up their military readiness, Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics announced Monday that the Czech Republic intends to procure 24 of the company’s 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
It’s not as simple as signing a check, however. Instead, the Czech government signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to make its procurement goal official through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale.
Under the agreement, the Czech Air Force will get its first F-35 in 2031, delivered in the latest advanced Block 4 configuration, Lockheed said.
“We’re pleased the government of Czech Republic is now officially a part of the F-35 Lightning II program of record,” U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office, said in a statement. “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.”
Includes training, service and logistical support
In addition to snagging the Lightnings, the procurement will includes “personnel training, service and logistical support, and developing other support services ensuring successful deliveries of all 24 F-35s,” Lockheed said.
“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,” noted Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s VP and GM of the F-35 program, in a statement.
“We’re 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,” Lauderdale added. “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.”
Replacing legacy fighter fleets in Europe
Lockheed called the F-35 “the European aircraft of choice” to replace 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.”
More than 600 F-35s will be working together from more than 10 European countries by the 2030s, the defense contractor added—including ‘two full U.S. F-35 squadrons’ stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath.
The company called the F-35 “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.”
Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 990 F-35s to date, with the aircraft operating from 32 bases around the globe. The company says it has trained more than 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers, with the F-35 fleet surpassing nearly 773,000 cumulative flight hours.
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