Czech Republic to Purchase 24 US-Made F-35 Fighter Jets

The Czech Republic will purchase 24 US-made F-35 fighter jets, Prime Minister Petr Fiala instructed reporters on Wednesday.

“The primary F-35s might be prepared in 2029 and our pilots will begin coaching with them in the US then,” Fiala mentioned.

He added that the primary supersonic jets would arrive within the Czech Republic in 2031 and the military would have all 24 planes at its disposal by 2035.

Protection Minister Jana Cernochova mentioned the overall value was 150 billion koruna ($6.5 billion).

“We pays about 106 billion koruna for the planes, ammunition, simulators, coaching and different objects by 2034,” Cernochova instructed reporters.

The remaining will cowl gas and infrastructure, as an illustration.

The Czech military presently makes use of 14 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, whose lease will expire in 2027.

Beginning subsequent 12 months, the federal government plans to spend two % of its gross home product on protection, consistent with its NATO pledge.

“For our defence, you will need to increase our ties with NATO allies,” Fiala mentioned.

“With this step, we’re telling them we’re taking the defence of our nation critically and that they will reckon with us.”