So now it’s a done deal: after the State Department approved the sale last summer, the Czech Republic has now ordered last summer, the Czech Republic has now ordered 24 F-35 fighter jets via Foreign Military Sales from manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The DSCA also approved the sale of up to 40 F-35As for Greece.
Athens had expressed its interest in the F-35 years agoAccording to the DSCA, the country may now order up to 40 fighter jets and 42 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, with delivery to take place in two batches of 20 aircraft each – provided Greece actually opts for 40 aircraft. The order is likely to be worth around eight billion euros, although a final contract is not expected to be signed before the end of 2024. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke in Athens of an “important day for our defense and diplomacy” and proof that Greece “plays an important role in the Western world”. This also includes the country continuing to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia. Russia. To this end, Greece is also to receive four LCS frigates, two C-130 transport aircraft and Bradley tanks from US military stocks free of charge. https://militaeraktuell.at/das-bundesheer-praesentiert-das-risikobild-2024/ The Czech Republic is planning to introduce its new fighter jet fleet in 2031. These will be the latest Block 4 models. In addition to the aircraft, the procurement also includes personnel training, service and logistical support as well as the development of other support services. “We are pleased that the government of the Czech Republic is now officially part of the F-35 Lightning II program,” said US Air Force Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. “This will provide the Czech Air Force with unmatched interoperability and ensure they are capable of countering current and future threats.” Bridget Lauderdale, vice president and general manager of the F-35 program at Lockheed Martin, added: “With the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance between the Czech and U.S. governments, the Czech Republic becomes the eighteenth country to join the global F-35 program.”
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